*𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔* 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒅-𝑩𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 I felt his warm breath as it caressed my ear, causing a shiver to crawl down my spine as he whispered, "So it seems you have been having quite the time with my brother tonight, Miss Beckett." I looked up horrified to meet his cold blue eyes as they peered down at me, the corners of his mouth curled slightly, revealing some of his beautifully white teeth. "I beg your forgiveness, My prince. I did not mean to offend you by accepting your brother's invitation to dance." I swallowed hard, trying to fight the lump of fear that had started to build in my throat, "I did not think I was allowed to decline." Prince Thomas let out a little chuckle, "Oh, I am not mad at you, Emma." I shivered when my name left his lips, "You have just piqued my interest, that is all." 𝑭𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 After receiving a letter from the King announcing the commencement of a new event called The Courting , Emma's parents force her to switch places with her sister and attend this event in her stead. Doing so thrusts her into a life she never envisioned for herself, making her realize that she wants and deserves more than the scraps that she'd been allowed up until then. Though winning is easier said than done, as she must now compete against nearly two hundred other girls for the hand of the second Prince of Myrce, and the approval of the Queen, if she hopes to secure this new future for herself.

She was not born a lady, she was made one. She was not born into wealth, she was given it. Laila is a woman of the king, and she fell in love with him, the day she first met him. Whether it was the kindness he'd shown her or the charming face and body he has, the attraction was there from the start. But King Stephan is not one to reciprocate such feelings, as Laila is one of the ten women he has in his castle. If only there was a way they could grow closer...secrets, lies, pain, war...all of which tears people apart, could actually be what brings them together. *** Turning to face him, she sees his lips curling into a smile, making her heart warm and fuzzy. He slowly puts his arm around her, giving her time to refuse. When she doesn't, he pulls her against his chest. Leaning into her he whispers, "You called me by my name, back in the hallway." "I...I apologize-" "Don't...I like it." Laila feels her core clench upon hearing his words. He tilts her chin laying a kiss on her neck. Biting back her moan, she closes her eyes, feeling him suck on her skin. "Mmh!" Stephan feels her arousal placing his lips on hers, his hand traveling down pushing up her dress as he caresses her skin.* Cover by @Sachi_Stark ! ♥

They say her voice was once bewitching to all who heard it. She was like a siren luring sailors to their deaths on quiet nights... Those are just rumours that once were, truth be told the youngest daughter of the Count was a mute. Her voice had long been lost in her childhood years, disappearing like a whisper in the wind soon to be forgotten. She too disappeared with it, fading into the background, outshined by her talented siblings. The harder she tried to regain her worth, the more she was ignored. Until a chance encounter with a stranger changes everything... Word count: [100,000 - 150,000]