KolkinBerry
The Serpent and the Thorn
In a world defined by political maneuvering and forced alliances, Lady Annelise de Valois finds herself an unwilling pawn in a high-stakes game. Her betrothal to Lord Kaelen Vane, the formidable and chillingly possessive heir to the Duke of Blackwood, promises a future bound to a man whose ruthless ambition sends shivers down her spine. Annelise dreads the life that awaits her.
However, within the foreboding walls of Blackwood Keep, Annelise encounters Rhys Vane, Kaelen's enigmatic younger brother. Brooding and mysterious, Rhys lives in his brother's shadow, yet his eyes hold a captivating depth, a hint of darkness that both frightens and draws Annelise in. Their initial interactions, fraught with tension, slowly give way to a shared disdain for their rigid world and Kaelen's tyrannical nature, forging an undeniable, forbidden connection.
As their clandestine meetings escalate, Annelise and Rhys's attraction blossoms in the shadows, a dangerous secret that threatens to unravel their entire world. Kaelen's escalating cruelty and possessiveness become a palpable threat, while Rhys, too, harbors secrets from a shadowed past-a history that hints at a dangerous side to his nature. The risk of their affair being exposed looms constantly, promising not just scandal, but potentially dire consequences for both Annelise and Rhys.
The Serpent and the Thorn is a tale of shifting allegiances, dangerous desires, and the blurring lines between right and wrong. It's a journey into a world where moral ambiguity reigns, and love can be found in the most unexpected-and perilous-of places. Will Annelise survive the treacherous currents of Blackwood Keep, and with whom will her destiny ultimately lie?