seemed to murmur tales of the curse binding King Darius to the dragons-a curse that had shaped the destiny of their realm. The weight of her responsibility pre

ncess Evelynn, the peacekeeper, not a pawn in a forbidden liaison. Her purpose was clear: t

esonant quality of his voice threatened to dismantle the

quet had concluded, and while the other guests retreated to their quarters, an inexplicable pull drew her toward him.

end of anticipation and apprehension surged through her veins. She had anticipated this moment, had known that

walls. The room was expansive, dominated by a grand bed draped in rich crimson silks. A magnificent tapestry adorned one wall, depicting an ancient dragon wi

shadow that seemed to draw her

rcurrent of something unspoken, an allure that sent

nce eluding her in the face of his proximity. Her body screamed to move toward him, to bask

. His crimson eyes gleamed in the dim light, burning wit

ain composed. "I am here to fulfill my duty," she replied, her v

n them. His gaze never wavered, and she could feel the heat radiating

re so tender it threatened to unravel her resolve. "You perceive me as your adversar

but hearing him speak of it with such raw honesty, such vulnerability

hispered, her voice barely audible. "But we ar

me, Princess. You are here to serve your kingdom. You believe that by remaining distant, by rejecti

self unable to look away from his gaze, those deep crimson pools that seemed to see into her very soul. She

r face. The touch was electric, sending a jolt of warmth th

d, his lips dangerously close to her ear. "B

m not yours," she stated firmly, her voice trembling despite her best efforts.

of malice but filled with something darker

my dear.

the undeniable attraction that simmered between them. She found herself stealing glances at him during council meetings, her heart racing

could break the curse binding Darius-a ritual that required a willing participant. The thought sent a chill down her spine. Co

emed fraught with peril, and the weight of her decision threatened to crush her. S

lized that some journeys were not meant to be understood immediately. Some p

challenges lay ahead, knowing that the choices she made would