Nathaniel, a prince. Marc, the Prince's scribe. Late nights, secret tunnels, hiding in plain sight. A forbidden love between two of the same gender. They did a swell job of hiding their love until a family member finds out- Nathaniel's grandmother. Giving into her endless love for her Grandson, she agrees to keep their little secret, but- they only had a certain amount of time before the King and Queen found out. The two have until then to come up with a plan.
It was certainly two against an entire empire.
TW: Homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, ableism, child abuse (emotional, psychological, minor physical), death, descriptions of violence.
Will put content warnings for chapter specific triggers on each chapter.
Nathaniel Knox has only ever seen Phoebe as one thing: forbidden. He's no good for anyone - especially not someone as sweet as his best friend's little sister. He knows he can't have her. But when a series of events sends Phoebe stumbling headfirst into danger, only he can protect her.
*****
Phoebe West has been head-over-heels in love with her brother's best friend for as long as she can remember. Despite several mortifying attempts at seduction and a decade's worth of unrequited pining, nothing Phoebe does seems to have any impact on Nate. What she doesn't know is that there's a darkness in Nate, the kind you can't avoid after years working in special forces and private security. Some lines aren't meant to be crossed - even if she makes him feel things he barely recognizes...
Content and trigger warning: This story contains mature sexual content.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]