_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

<p>The corridors of the keep were quieter than usual, a deceptive silence stretching through the stone walls like a held breath. Shadows pooled in the corners where the torchlight didn't reach, and the air carried a faint chill despite the warmth of the flickering sconces. The events of the previous night had left the court shaken, and though no more accusations had been made, the unease had seeped into the very bones of the castle.</p>

<p>I moved swiftly through the halls, my skirts whispering against the marble floors. The faint scent of melted wax and damp stone clung to the air, a stark contrast to the opulence of the ballroom just hours before. Lucian walked beside me, his steps measured, his face unreadable. But I could sense it—the tension in his frame, the way his fingers twitched at his sides, as if resisting the urge to tighten into fists.</p>

Chapter 18