Royal of Darkness

Previously

…“Then you are truly mine,” he whispered, his lips brushing against my temple. “And I, yours.” As I leaned into his embrace, feeling the steady beat of his heart against mine, I knew I had made my choice. It was a choice that bound me to a world of danger and intrigue, a world where love and power were inextricably intertwined. But in Valerius’s arms, surrounded by the ancient shadows of Thorne Manor, I felt a strange sense of peace. I was no longer a captive, but a participant. A partner in his dark, extraordinary destiny. And for the first time since I had arrived, I felt truly, undeniably, alive.