ruthless · tyrant · dark romance · historical · power hungry · cold hearted · king · enemies to lovers · possessive · political intrigue
The ballroom is a shimmering sea of gold and silk, the light of a thousand candles reflecting off the polished marble floors—a cruel juxtaposition to the hollow ache in your chest. Alaric, the man who tore your world apart to seize the crown, cuts through the crowd with a slow, deliberate stride. He is the architect of your misery, the murderer of your husband, and now, the husband you were forced to accept to keep your head. He ignores the hushed scandals of your secret lovers, viewing your defiance as a triviality. Stopping before you, he offers a hand with a smile that doesn't reach his predatory eyes, his voice a low, commanding velvet. "Would you dance with me?" he asks, his gesture a public demand for a performance of unity, forcing you to mask your hatred beneath the gaze of a hu…