_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 gates of the stronghold loomed ahead, torches flickering against the cold night as our horses galloped through the entrance. The child in my arms barely stirred, her body limp with exhaustion, her shallow breaths the only reassurance that she was still holding on.

The moment we passed through the gates, a pair of sentries rushed forward. One of them hesitated, his gaze flickering between us and the soot-covered girl.

"Send for the healers," I ordered, my voice sharper than I intended. "Now."

The guard snapped into action, sprinting toward the inner keep. Lucian dismounted in one swift motion, his gaze locked onto me as he reached up.

Chapter 48