𝗠𝗜𝗭𝗣𝗔𝗛 - excerpts from books I'll never write

➪ One

Alator fidgeted ever so slightly as he stood next to his father in the courtyard, looking at the distant procession that was slowly drawing closer towards them and the palace behind them. He knew as the crown prince he was expected to stand still and look regal at all times, but the small pit of dread in the bottom of his stomach distracted him from proper etiquette. To be fair, he was about to meet his future wife for the first time.

The only problem was the fact that no matter what this girl looked like, no matter what she said or did, Alator knew he would never grow to love her, not in the way most married people did. He had never felt attracted to women in that way.

He'd known since he was quite young, but when he told his father that boys were the ones that held his heart, he had simply shrugged. 'Duty before love' had been his only words. Duty before love. That's why he had to marry this random stranger, this foreign princess. Duty.

After all, love never really mattered when you had a kingdom to protect.

The loud blare of a trumpet shook Alator out of his thoughts, and he forced a smile as the beginning of the procession entered the courtyard.

"Presenting Princess Tabithia of Opeia," called an unseen voice, and a girl on horse back approached.

She was everything that had been promised. A gorgeous woman with skin smooth and tanned, her silky caramel hair blowing gently in the wind. In a light auburn gown, she looked like autumn leaves falling from maple trees, and her smile was sweeter than honey dripping off the spoon. Alator willed himself to feel anything for her, any ounce of attraction he could find.

He found none.

Regardless, he smiled demurely, trying to hide the dread in his stomach.

"And her brother, Prince Valerin."

If Tabithia was caramel and warm summer days, Valerin was like moonlight. Dressed in black and dark blue, he was the picture of mysterious desire, and his black curly hair contrasted beautifully with his pale skin. His eyes were so deep, Alator thought he might get lost in their dark azure depths. Even his cheekbones were dusted with something that glimmered in the late afternoon light.

As Valerin's striking blue eyes met his gaze, Alator swallowed hard. Things were about to get a little more complicated.