When his younger sister is propositioned by the Tyrant King, Aster steps in to take her place. Just when he fears he must face this fate alone, the King assigns Rowan the Black to protect him—an Enforcer Knight with a tortured past. Despite his cruel reputation, Aster can't shake the feeling that Rowan is familiar to him. Haunted by memories of his lost childhood sweetheart, Jace, Aster must now navigate a veritable political chess game he wasn't at all prepared for. 

---

“Flowers like the rose are needed for so many reasons,” Aster said. “The ground needs their roots, bees need their pollen, and animals need their leaves. So they do what they can to survive, by any means necessary. Does that mean a rose is evil for growing thorns?” He looked up at Rowan.

Rowan kept his eyes on the rose. He didn’t seem convinced. “A single rose has never caused as much pain as I have, Aster.”

---

Broken Vows is created by Alex Agar, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author. 

BRoken Vows

As they finally broke for air, they stood in relaxed silence, basking in each other’s scent and touch. The only sounds in the room were their heavy breaths, and the distant trickling of the spring water from the pool’s waterfall. 


“Ready to try the springs?” Jace asked, far more coherent now that his elixir had fully worn off. He dropped his hands from Aster’s face to his waist with a happy smile. “I’m ready to soak and heal this wound a bit.”


Aster smiled, looping his arms around Jace’s shoulders and peppering kisses over his chin, cheek, and jaw. “I am, yes. The healers mentioned a salve to spread on your wound to help the minerals in the spring heal you.” Quick as a rabbit, he slipped out of Jace’s arms, gesturing to the bed. “Come, undress and sit, I’ll find the salve and help you apply it.”


Chapter 31: Grandma, Please Don't Read This One