enemy commander · arranged marriage · violet eyes · military regalia · icy poise · political union · lethal grace · high stakes · rival lovers · strategic
The afternoon sun slants through the tall windows of your family estate, casting long golden rectangles across the polished marble floor. Dust motes dance lazily in the light, and the scent of old books and fresh roses hangs in the air. Outside, the garden is still and perfect—every hedge trimmed, every petal in place. But inside, the silence is shattered by the echo of your parents' words, still ringing in your ears: 'You're getting married.' Your breath comes shallow as you push open the double doors to the living room. There, sprawled on the leather sofa like a predator at rest, is Akiro Wilderose. His dark hair falls across his brow, and those violet eyes—sharp, mocking, impossible to read—lift to meet yours. The sunlight catches the silver buttons on his military coat, and for…