DA_Aloera

A princess's duty is to be beautiful, quiet, not loud, to be seen and not to be heard, which was how Dahlia lived most of her life. Bound by the expectations of her title, she spent years trying to prove to her father that she was more than just a princess and capable of being more than an ornament in his court but each time she never got the chance. Instead, she was forced into a marriage of convenience with the bravest knight in all the kingdom, Reagan Hawthorne.

Dahlia thought she would use this marriage to escape the brutal crutches of her father and glide out of her cage but Reagan’s cold disdain was an unexpected prison of its own. While he waged wars on distant lands, she stayed behind, holding his household together and protecting the people he seemed to ignore. But Dahlia carried a dangerous secret. By day, she was the perfect wife. By night, she became the "Black Knight," a masked vigilante fighting for justice in the shadows.

Reagan returned, ready to focus on his personal mission: avenging his father’s death. To him, Dahlia was just another pawn in his plans—a spoiled princess he needed to tolerate. But as cracks began to form in her perfect façade, Reagan couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his wife than met the eye.

Now, with enemies circling closer and their secrets threatening to collide, Dahlia and Reagan must confront the lies they’ve told themselves and each other. But when masks fall and truths are revealed, will their fragile bond withstand the storm—or will it shatter beyond repair?

One wound. One secret. One night that changes everything.

THE Knight’s Hidden Princess

We rode for days in the woods, not stopping for anything because there was no time to waste. At first it had been exhilarating because I felt the wind on my face at the same time I experienced the steady hoof-beat underneath me alongside my driving resolve. A deep sense of fatigue had started penetrating through my body but I still pushed on, unable to risk stopping.

I moved my Seat in the saddle while enduring the increasing pain that swept through my Legs. My endless hours of riding left my muscles in burning pain and made my hands stiff through hard grasping of the reins. Still, I did not slow. Not until the horses did.

Heather's mare let out a hard panting breath before it suddenly slowed down to a stop and following suit was Eddie's stallion. The horses were tired as were we no matter how hard I tried to deny it.

"Let's stop and get some rest!" I declared to which everyone heaved out a visible sigh of relief.

It Wasn't Much But It Was A Start