"I was raised to be a queen. But I was sold to be a concubine." Lois Frazer was born a member of House Valtara and grew up believing the throne was her birthright. But on the day of her coronation, Steve Reynolds, a former childhood friend and avowed protector, turns brother with a bloodless coup. Instead of killing her, Steve holds Lois in the palace - but not as a queen. He demotes her status by calling her a concubine, a trophy to be bent to his will and make his claim. But Steve's perverse kind of devotion conceals a deeper, ambivalent hunger - he doesn't just want her throne; he wants her. Unwilling to give up, Lois engineers her own resurrection to power, forging flimsy alliances and using even her captor's affections against him. In a kingdom swirling with political turmoil, forbidden desires and shifting loyalties, will Lois win back the crown - or will she ruin herself and the man who betrayed her?

Chapter 1 The Weight of a Crown

Pale gold washed the high spires of Valtara at dawn, and slivers of light danced through the arched windows flanking my chamber. I stood before an immense mirror as my heart thumped in my chest, wondering if I really looked like a monarch primed for a coronation. My reflection was of a young woman with sleep-deprived eyes and dark hair grazing her shoulders. Richly woven tapestries portraying regal ancestors surrounded me on all sides, their woven gazes confident in a way I wished I could be.

My coronation robe hung over the back of a carved chair, crimson velvet glittering in golden thread. Its grandeur felt like a rebuke to the twinge of doubt bubbling inside me. Rumours flitted through the halls, each warning that a hidden power could overturn the ceremony. I tried to quell the disquiet, telling myself I was bred for this moment, raised for it from a young age." But a part of my mind would not be reassured.

I walked to the window, peering down into the courtyard. Beams of sunlight streaked through rows of attention-spearmen. The cool morning air was filled with the fragrance of blossoms from the royal gardens. This should have been a victorious morning, but my chest felt tight. There was a creeping dread that told me a victory might ring hollow if enemies already conspired against me.

My mother used to promise me that the throne would require both poise and resilience, caution and courage. Those lessons I had embraced faithfully. Now, I wondered whether anyone who professed to love me might have covert malevolence. The thought clenched my fingers into fists as I took a soothing breath.

A soft knock roused me from my reverie. My long-time companion and confidante, Wren Nightshade, pushed the door open. Her smooth brow knitted, her lips pursed. Dressed in a plain midnight blue gown, she moved with the purposeful grace of one who had negotiated life in a palace from a young age.

She paused, studying my face. "Lois, there is talk you need to hear."

That one sentence gave me chills all the way down my back. "Tell me."

Her voice trembled. "Servants whisper of a threat. A high-born lord, or perhaps closer. Word is they intend to sabotage your crowning."

My pulse kicked in alarm. "Someone influential?"

Wren nodded, eyes sombre. "No one's going to name names, but the whispers are getting louder. They're terrified."

My thoughts swirled, and silence hung between us. I'd half braced for such news, but hearing it spoken confirmed my worst fears. If there was any truth to the rumours, it all came down to my ability to hold firm under fire.

Wren stepped forward, her eyes fixed on me, serious and unflinching. "We need to act carefully."

My heart thudded. Suddenly, the morning light seemed very bright, as if there were threats only inches out of sight.

A steady rhythm of footfalls followed behind me as I stepped into the corridor with Wren right at my side. We walked marble corridors flanked by heraldries on colourful flags and woven murals, artefacts of Valtara's proud heritage. But an unsettling silence enveloped the palace, so every footfall echoed louder than it should have.

Miscellaneous servants scurried by, carrying bouquets, trays or scrolls listing final details for the coronation. Their furtive glances suggested repressed dread. I observed that nobody had the courage to talk to me civilly. Maybe they were afraid of being seen with the soon-to-be queen if dark rumours turned out to be accurate.

Wren's voice sliced through my thoughts. Lois, do you feel how thick the air is?

I swallowed and tucked a strand of hair behind an ear. "Yes. "There's this sense of anxiety as if everyone's kind of holding their breath waiting for something to go wrong."

She nodded grimly. "Silence can be scarier than public revolt. "If they're plotting, they're doing it quietly, in corners no one would dare shine a light on."

I glanced at the tapestries, which depicted past rulers victorious in battle, in feasts, in diplomacy. I had learned of their accomplishments, dreaming I could replicate their feats. Now, I had another chore: to reveal the true face of an enemy yet unknown.

We descended a few steps down to the grand foyer, where an elaborately carved balcony overlooked the main hall. Sunbeams filtered through stained-glass windows, scattering rainbow shades on the polished floor. Servants below scurried back and forth, tightening floral arrangements or directing minor lords arriving in advance of the ceremony.

Wren leaned closer. "Do you see how none of the lords does not pester you. They're normally flocking around, praising your lineage, begging for some sort of favour."

She was right. Rather than jostling to be near me, they appeared to steer clear of my straight line, peeking at me with a mixture of fear and anticipation. Even the sentries in front of each archway seemed uncomfortable as if caught between standing by tradition and obeying new orders given too quietly to be publicly defended.

My skin had crawled with the feeling of unseen watchers. Then, I heard a gaunt, muffled sound through a pillar. I held my breath, straining to hear the words. Wren stiffened, her hand gliding over the hilt of her dagger.

A rasping voice floated over the marble. "She won't rule for long."

My blood iced. I turned around and looked around. Wren dashed for a heavy curtain, pulling it back. The alcove behind it was empty, with nothing but grey stone walls and dust. Whoever made that threat had vanished, leaving a terrible certainty in their place: someone meant to do me harm, and they were bold enough to think they could whisper it here, in my space.

Wren's stare turned fierce. "We have to be on guard."

I nodded, jaw clenched, pulse erratic. There was danger, and it had a voice I couldn't yet name.

And by late afternoon, it was the weight of those whispered threats that was eating away at my composure. I couldn't take looking at so many anxious faces any longer, so I ladled myself off the main corridors and found a quiet corner to collect my thoughts. The maze of backlogged thoroughfares called patchworks of flickering torchlight creates treacherous shapes upon the stones.

Finally, I came to a halt outside an unremarkable door, ajar. A dim light spilt into the hallway, along with low, urgent voices. My heart raced, curiosity and dread fighting each other in my gut. Was I running into the very conspirators who sought to upend my coronation?

Silently, I inched closer. I pressed the palm of my hand against the cool surface and peered through the gap. Two figures loomed around a small table, lit only by the flicker of a single torch. My breath hitched as I realized it was Steve Reynolds's lean form - a man I'd once trusted blindly. Across from him, Captain Kellan Thorn towered with that calm, cool confidence he always wore when prepping the troops. The profiles were tight, their words staccato.

Steve's voice emerged first. "We cannot allow her to take the throne. It'll bring ruin."

My nails bit into my palm. He spoke about me. Anger and grief rolled around inside, but I made myself not burst in. I needed to know the depth of this betrayal.

Kellan exhaled heavily. "We must proceed carefully. If the wrong people start to think we're the same, it all collapses."

My eyes blurred in disbelief. Kellan was held in high esteem for discipline and honesty. Now he conspired against me? Even the citadel's walls seemed to cave in, threatening to bury me in betrayal.

"We give her stop her now," Steve went on, voice taut, "or we watch Valtara collapse under her incompetence."

Pain lanced my chest. Had he always had such a deep lack of faith in me, or was he driven by some manipulative agenda? My head was spinning, remembering some of the times we'd exchanged great ideas for the kingdom's future. That trust had been a sham, or perhaps a chance for him to collect leverage.

Kellan tapped his fingers on the table. "It has to be done quietly. If word spreads-"

He froze midsentence. Torch darted over his grim face as he looked sharply in the direction of the door. Panic tightened me, my heart banging like a war drum. If they discovered me eavesdropping, I might not only fail in my coronation - I could find myself imprisoned, or worse."

I stepped back so I wouldn't rustle my gown. The turbulence of rage and betrayal roiled beneath my skin. Then I turned, boots scratching lightly on the stone. I turned and fled down the dim passage as quietly as I could, ears ringing with their treacherous vows. In the back of my mind, their rigid stances burning in, a grim portent of what the morning might bring.

View More Comments on App

Other books by Ruby Meskill

Signed to Him: Owned by His Twin

Billionaires

5.0

Savannah Carlisle was marrying a billionaire heir for security, or so she thought. Yet on her wedding night, she finds herself waking next to the wrong twin - and her signature is already tied to the Pennington dynasty's deepest secrets. Now imprisoned in a mansion of lies, Savannah learns that she's been seeded with an heir long before she says, "I do." Her womb isn't hers. Her name has been rewritten. And the man who really possesses her is ringless - he wears her silence. By then, with a fabricated contract, a lost memory, and a media empire built on illusion, Savannah must untangle a legacy where love is leverage, and escape may cost everything, including the child she didn't sign up to bear.

The Moon That Devours Gods

Fantasy

5.0

Vesper Bloodmoon is a princess hidden away from her own kingdom, cursed with the mythic power of the Devouring Moon, the goddess that devours the wolf gods themselves. Both feared and shunned, she is reduced to secrecy until her father's death launches a maelstrom of political ambition, divine wrath and romantic entanglement. As the kingdom's devoted High Priest, Draven Nightfang knows the gods' laws better than anyone, and when he learns the truth about Vesper, their bond could shatter aeons of divine dominion or unleash a fierce power beyond anyone's control. In a world of worship, war, and fate, their love crucibles the one hope-or the final curse-to swallow gods.

Luna's Rejection: Rise of the Blackwood

Werewolf

5.0

"You left us," muttered Lucas, his eyes ablaze with betrayal and fury. "You should have stuck with us." As she stood there in the moonlit clearing during the Bonding Ceremony, her heart broke, and Lucas chose the other girl, casting Anya aside, forever forsaken. Her heart was aflame with pain and resilience as his words resounded through her. The Blackwood Pack was paralyzed by terror as evil Alpha, Elias of Shadowfang, unleashed evil to destroy their beloved home. In the chaos, Anya discovered her unique powers shining like a beacon. Driven to flee her splintering household, Anya sets out for Hidden Sanctuary, a mystical realm of refuge and knowledge. She meets Caleb, a noble warrior of the neutral pack with a mysterious past and a secret ambition. Anya and Caleb try to figure out what they want from each other as they expose secrets that could break their reality, even though they don't completely trust each other. Anya's most trusted confidantes, including her closest friend Lila, betray her, risking their mission. Anya digs into her ancient lineage and the prophecy inextricably tied to her fate. Both occur simultaneously, and both conclude the world. As Elias' wrath intensifies and the fate of every werewolf pack lies in the balance, Anya must harness her power, foster deep bonds, and face her darkest demons. Anya and Caleb have a life-defining decision: will love prevail over the ultimate sacrifice as the final battle approaches? Will Anya overcome her rejection and lead her people to victory, or will betrayal and war swallow them both?

Vows and Vindication: A Billionaire's Last Redemption

Billionaires

5.0

On the cusp of their anniversary, Sophia Blake senses the widening gap between her and her billionaire husband, Julian Sterling. What she thought was the pinnacle of love and security reveals itself as a fragile dream. When she stumbles upon questionable dealings and deep-seated betrayal, it ignites her resolve to break free. In her quest to redefine herself, she embarks on creating a visionary tech startup-"InnoBliss." Meanwhile, Julian struggles to reconcile professional obligations and the emotional distance that has hardened around his heart. A cunning rival emerges, tangling them further in corporate battles. But from heartbreak's embers arise second chances-if both can confront buried feelings, unearth honest intentions, and decide what truly matters.

The Dragon King's Enchanted Bride

Romance

5.0

Lyra, the mortal researcher, hopes her life will run out, so she presents the enigmatic Dragon King Kael as a sacrifice bride. Instead, she discovers that Kael intends not to let her escape; her blood carries the key to an ancient curse that seals dragons to death. Lyra had to choose between the human kingdom that turned on her and a celestial revolution designed to wipe out the planet. Either she would become a puppet in their hands or revolt against gods and dragons to help define her own fate.

The Billionaire's Enchanted Bride

Romance

5.0

Learning about a magnificent, magical treasure, Ethan Draycott-a spiteful tech millionaire with a secret heart-accidentally summons forth Seraphina, the dethroned and cursed queen of the fairies. Having to stay in his universe until she finds her "true love," Seraphina hates depending on Ethan. But when two worlds meet, Ethan's commercial sense and Seraphina's lost magical skill present an interesting team-building challenge. Negotiating corporate backstabbing and the resurgence of long-standing magical enemies, the two learn perhaps that love is the strongest skill of all.

You'll also like

The Unwanted Wife's Unexpected Comeback

Idaline Miele

3.9

On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."

A Second Chance With The CEO After Divorce

Blackfish

3.7

Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"

The Rejected Ex-Wife

Samuelcpreciousbooks

5.0

June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!

Marrying A Secret Zillionaire: Happy Ever After

Hamid Bawdekar

4.4

Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."

When Love Comes Late

Fifine Schwan

4.7

In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?

An Alpha's True Luna

Ivo nne

4.5

She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?

6/F MANULIFE PLACE 348 KWUN TONG ROAD KL

Resources

For Authors Contact Us Tags Completed

Referrals

Law

Conditions of Service Privacy Policy Copyright Complaints

Download App

APP STORE

GOOGLE PLAY

House of Daggers

About

Contents