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

By day break we were already back on our journey. The rest wasn't much but we looked better than before and it also helped that the horses were well rested. Sometime during lookout, Eddie fell asleep. It didn't take long for him to do so and I had grabbed a cloth to cover him with while I kept watch for the rest of the night.

The night turned cold sometime around midnight but I didn't still fall asleep. I was used to being outside most of the time and used to the cold which had nothing to do with my activity as the black knight. I suppose I do have my father and Madam Heidi cruel training to thank for that.

When I didn't behave well or did anything that was displeasing in the eye of my father, I get stripped down in my underwear and then lock me in an old windowless pitch black cellar. Over the years I grew accustomed to the cold and even the darkness became my closet friend.

Close To The Border