Crimson Petals of the Impaler : Book 2

Previously

…Yet, beneath the veneer of his gruff exterior, a profound tenderness bloomed. He found a solace in her existence that no battlefield or council chamber could ever provide. Her vulnerability was not a weakness to him, but a precious charge, a sacred trust. He was acutely aware of the precariousness of her situation, the constant need for vigilance. His love was a silent promise, a vow whispered into the wind, that he would shield her from all harm, even from himself, if necessary. He had built her a world within his world, a sanctuary of quietude where her spirit could flourish, a life he must keep silent and hidden, for it was the most precious thing he possessed.