_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 night passed in restless silence, the weight of the coming dawn pressing against my chest like a heavy stone. I did not sleep, nor did Lucian. We sat in quiet contemplation, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows across the chamber walls. There was nothing left to say, no reassurances to be given. By morning, everything would change.</p>

<p>When the first rays of light crept over the horizon, we prepared for our departure. I donned a dark riding cloak over a fitted tunic and trousers, the familiar comfort of Hull's battle-ready attire easing some of the tension coiled in my stomach. My twin daggers rested at my sides, a silent reminder that peace was never promised.</p>

Chapter 34