_saintrose

Verona Falkenrath was raised for war, not marriage. But when her kingdom is forced into an uneasy alliance with its greatest rival, she is wed to Prince Lucian Velthorne, a man as cold and calculated as the crown he will one day inherit.

What begins as a union of duty soon becomes a tangled web of shifting loyalties, political games, and dangerous truths. With war on the horizon and enemies moving in the shadows, Verona must decide who to trust, who to fight, and what she's willing to sacrifice to protect the people she loves.

In a court ruled by power and blood, survival is not promised. But one thing is certain. The woman they tried to use as a pawn might just rewrite the game.

To Love a Crowned Enemy

The grand ballroom of Velthorne Keep never ceased to amaze me. Chandeliers are dripping with golden light, illuminating the silks and jewels of the nobility who moved through the space like predators in a gilded cage. The scent of honeyed wine, wax, and perfumed oils clung to the air, mingling with the faint metallic bite of polished silver and armor.

I stood near the edge of the room, my fingers curled lightly around the stem of a goblet filled with wine I had no intention of drinking. The weight of my crimson sash was heavy on my shoulders, a reminder that though I was dressed in Praylor's colors, I had not been entirely swallowed by them. The fabric itched at my skin—a small, persistent discomfort that mirrored the scrutiny pressing down on me.

Tonight, the court was watching. Testing. Again.

Chapter 16