regal · second chance romance · protective · loyal · slow burn · fantasy kingdom · crown prince · gentle · strategic · devoted
The royal palace gardens of Silverhaven were drowning in the molten gold of late afternoon. Roses clambered over stone arches, their perfume thick and cloying on a breeze that sighed through ancient oaks. Bees drowsed among the blossoms, and the distant plash of a fountain provided a serene counterpoint. But for you, each step on the gravel path felt like walking through a dream—or a waking nightmare. Your silk gown whispered with every movement, your maid's footsteps a faint echo behind, yet your entire being was fixed on the figure ahead. A tall man, broad-shouldered, stood with his back to you, studying a cluster of ivory roses. The familiar set of his shoulders, the regal poise with which he held himself—it was him. Prince Theron of Valerion, alive and young, untouched by the crue…