Reborn at seventeen, Elowen gets a chance to escape the loveless marriage that once destroyed her. When the King offers to arrange her marriage, she shocks everyone by rejecting the Crown Prince and choosing Cassian, the legendary Duke lying in a coma. But Cassian was the only man who showed her kindness in her darkest life. This time, can she rewrite their fate—and awaken the man she chose?
“If there is someone you care for… say it.” The King’s voice carried across the great hall from the raised dais-steady, composed, yet touched with an uncommon gentleness. Every word was deliberate, leaving no room for doubt. “I want to hear it from you.” Elowen Hale stood perfectly still. In that single moment, clarity struck…
Without favor… without a child… Elowen became invisible. Servants no longer bothered to hide their disdain. And she endured it all silently. Until one day-she overheard him. Alaric was speaking with a close companion. About her. Only then did she understand. Everything she had suffered-he had known. He simply hadn’t cared. Or worse-he had allowed…
Curious. Amused. Waiting. Watching. Another girl might have felt humiliated. Elowen felt nothing. Compared to what she had already lived through-this was nothing. The King laughed. “So you like him that much? You grew up together. It must be mutual, then. In that case, I shall arrange the betrothal myself-“ “Your Majesty.” Her voice cut…
In her previous life- Cassian awoke in the third year of her marriage. That year…had been one of the darkest she had ever endured. She remained childless. The Queen arranged for Alaric to take a consort. Compared to Elowen, the consort was cherished-by Alaric, by the servants, by the entire Crown Prince’s Wing. Everything Elowen…
And in her previous life…though he had eventually awakened-neglect and poor care had left him permanently paralyzed. Confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He had shown her kindness-when no one else had. The least she could do…was return it. Care for him. Help him recover. Maybe-even help him walk again. And…
And now here she was, clearly regretting it. But still playing distant and pretending she had moved on. Alaric let out a low, mocking chuckle. “Really, Elowen?” he said coolly, his voice edged with ridicule. “Is this your idea of playing hard to get?” His gaze sharpened. “Honestly… it’s kind of boring.” Elowen stilled, a…
Alaric shot Elowen a glance, his voice cutting and cold. “If she’s so eager to marry my uncle, why deny her? Delay it until October, and she may start complaining behind our backs.” The words were deliberately cruel. Where once they might have struck deep- Elowen simply smiled. “His Highness is quite right,” she said…
Silence settled over the study, thick and uncomfortable. The tea in Leonhart’s hands suddenly felt scalding. He shifted in his seat, then stood abruptly. “Alaric-I’ve got other matters to attend to. I’ll be going.” Alaric gave a low, indifferent hum, not even bothering to rise. Leonhart took a few steps toward the door-then stopped. Something…
Some claimed Bran stood nine feet tall. Others said he feasted on human flesh. Yet the man before her bowed with absolute respect. “His Grace has been asleep for over half a year,” Bran said carefully. “He’s grown a bit thinner, but otherwise, he’s in good condition. He takes his medicine daily. In this heat,…
“The third day of the sixth month. Today is the day the Duke of Duskmoor married the general’s daughter.” Alaric froze. Elowen’s image resurfaced before his eyes-dressed in wedding robes, smiling softly. It felt as though something had carved into his chest, sharp and unrelenting, sending waves of pain through his heart. “Her Majesty has…