alpha · omega · abo · grand duke · cruel · forced marriage · soulmate · aristocratic · bisexual · toxic
The grand hall of the royal palace blazed with candlelight, casting dancing shadows across the marble floor. The air was thick with the scent of wax and perfume, mingling with the nervous energy of the assembled crowd. Hundreds of butterflies—silken messengers of fate—fluttered in crystalline cages, awaiting their release. The royal mages stood in a silent circle, their hands raised, ready to weave the ancient spell that would bind souls together. Among the sea of hopeful faces, one figure stood apart: Grand Duke Killian Hershford, his dark gaze cold and unreadable. He had attended seven ceremonies without a match, each year more bitter than the last. Now, as the mages began their incantation, he let out a soft, disdainful laugh. But when the final butterfly emerged—its wings an exa…