𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐦. 𝐇𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬. Valerie Crescent once had a promising future. In the land of Maskamere, blessed by the magic of the silvertrees, she was ready to begin her training as a priestess. Then the Drakonian Empire invaded, and Valerie lost everything. Two years later, Maskamere is a vassal of the Empire. Dressmaker by day, rebel by night, Valerie embarks on a mission to restore the silvertrees and free her country. But when an assassination plot goes wrong and her magical powers are revealed, Valerie is captured by the very man she tried to kill. • • • Content warnings: Mature themes, violence (including torture), references to slavery. See the author's note for a more complete list.

I glare at him, yanking at the bonds. He laughs softly. "Oh princess, you're so delicate. Do not struggle, we wouldn't want you to break, would we?" He whispers. I snarl at him but he's right, I'm sick and weak at the moment and the cold rain isn't helping matters. I turn away, coughing and choking on blood, but swallow it quickly, not wanting anyone to know my state. He smirks slightly. "Why are you so cruel?" I ask curious at his behavior. In the Castle I was kept away from the outside world by my parents, who told me of the dangers that lurk in it. However the servants and the cooks, who lived outside the protective wall of the Castle, always seemed like good people. "Cruel," he scuffs. "I am not cruel. Your kind is. Sitting in your castle, while families starve, homes burned to the ground because the blasted taxes are too high to pay. Cruelty, my dear Princess, is a word you and your family are all too familiar with." His words felt like a slap in the face. He can not be speaking truth. The kingdom loves my parents and they would never allow their people to starve. #384 in Historical Fiction 3/27, #361 in Historical Fiction 3/28, #312 in Historical Fiction 3/30, #291 in Historical Fiction 4/8, #287 in Historical Fiction 4/9, #285 in Historical Fiction 4/10, #265 in Historical Fiction 4/24, #256 in Historical Fiction 5/7, #225 in Historical Fiction 5/13. #218 in Historical Fiction 5/15, #119 in Historical Fiction 5/17, #112 in Historical Fiction 5/26, #95 in Historical Fiction 5/27, #83 in Historical Fiction 5/31, #67 in Historical Fiction 6/1, #53 in Historical Fiction 6/15, #26 in Historical Fiction 6/23, #20 in Historical Fiction 6/25, #16 in Historical Fiction 6/26, #13 in Historical Fiction 7/2, #10 in Historical Fiction 7/8, #5 in Historical Fiction 7/10, #12 in Historical Fiction 9/2, #13 in Historical Fiction 9/4, #7 in Historical Fiction 9/5, #5 in Historical Fiction 9/6, #7 Historical Fiction 1/8

Once we are alone, he turns to me, "We need to work on your acting skills. How can a commoner be such a bloody awful liar? Don't you learn that when you are infants?" "Oh, I'm sorry I don't lie for sport like you lot! Last I checked, it's the ones with the sticks up their arses who are so brilliant with deceit and after seeing your performance I know it to be fact! I've never heard such shit! As though I hold any regret, for telling that fancy prat anything, ha" I call back. Now that we are alone, I no longer require restraints as I let my temper run wild. He does something that takes me by utter surprise. He literally grabs my lips and pushes them together. "Don't you ever shut this mouth of yours!" I move my hands to his chest, trying to pay no mind to the heat radiating from him and give him a great push, shoving him a few steps back in surprise. "Don't touch me! Agh!" I let out before taking a breath, and with a little less force I add, "the King bought it didn't he." "Barely," he grunted. My head snapped back at him, I was fuming. How could a man make me so incredibly angry with just a few words? This must be the great charm of the Prince, I hear so much about. #310 in Historical Fiction 10/2, #347 IN HISTORICAL FICTION 1/5, #291 IN HISTORICAL FICTION 5/18, #239 IN HISTORICAL FICTION, #232 IN HISTORICAL FICTION 6/23 #160 in Historical Fiction 1/29/18 , #131 in Historical Fiction 4/3/18, #121 in Historical Fiction 4/4, #108 in Historical Fiction 4/8, #89 in Historical Fiction 4/9, #87 Historical Fiction 4/13, #66 Historical Fiction 4/22, #60 Historical Fiction 4/25, ----- Currently going through some major revisions 1/27/2018