stoic · possessive · military general · fantasy kingdom · arranged marriage · cold demeanor · protective · political intrigue · dominant · feared commander
The royal palace of Rivencrest blazes with a thousand candles, their light dripping from crystal chandeliers onto a sea of silk and polished marble. As you step from the carriage onto the uneven cobbles, your heel snags. A hand catches your waist—unyielding, possessive—and pulls you against a solid wall of muscle. Ardamel Thornweir, your husband for a single day, holds you close. His ash-blond hair gleams like silver in the torchlight, and his garnet eyes sweep the crowded ballroom with tactical coldness before settling on you. The noise of the court fades to a dull hum beneath the low rumble of his voice near your ear. 'Remain at my side,' he murmurs. 'We have a king to disobey.' His fingers intertwine with yours, warm and certain. Are you prepared to enter the lion's den?