_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 second ambush struck like a shadow descending upon the world, swift and merciless. One moment, the river's surface was calm, reflecting the graying sky in fractured ribbons. The next, the air was alive with the snap of bowstrings and the hiss of arrows slicing through mist.

Lucian's command cut through the chaos. "Move! Get to higher ground!"

The guards scrambled into action, mounting their horses as another volley of arrows rained down. I ducked behind a boulder, cursing as an arrow lodged itself inches from where I had stood moments ago. My heart pounded against my ribs, but there was no time for fear. Only action.

Lucian wheeled his horse around, slashing at an attacker who had burst from the trees. Blood sprayed against the damp earth, and the man crumpled without a sound. Another rider charged him, but Lucian was faster, his blade a blur of silver and crimson.

Chapter 30