_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 morning arrived shrouded in mist, the northern mountains casting long, eerie shadows over the stronghold. The fires in the great hall had long since burned to embers, but the tension in the air remained, thick and suffocating.

I dressed quickly, fastening a dark cloak over my shoulders, the heavy fabric offering little warmth against the biting chill. My mind was still unsettled from the conversation with Lucian the night before. The possibility of my father turning against me lingered like a storm on the horizon.

As I stepped into the corridor, I found Lucian already waiting outside my chambers. His expression was unreadable, but his stance, rigid and alert, told me everything I needed to know.

"Something's happened," I said, falling into step beside him as we moved toward the great hall.

"A message arrived at dawn," he replied, voice low. "Addressed to you."

Lucian's jaw tightened. "Your brother."

Chapter 32