Abyss - Book Five of the Alpha Series - MxM
There was only one thing left for Nicolas to do: step into a role he had never meant to fill.
A role thrust upon him, whether he was ready or not. As he stood on the edge of his new life, he'd never felt more himself, more powerful-and more terrified. In one moment, he would shed his past, leave behind his fears, and become the man the world needed him to be-the one who would end the divide and unite the kingdoms.
Or so he hoped.
For years, Nicolas had buried the truth of who he was. He had conformed to expectations-a king who never faltered, a good Catholic, a man of the people. But the man he truly was, the man he had long hidden, didn't fit into that mold. A short gay man who relied on knowledge rather than the blade of the sword in a world that demanded strength, masculinity, and tradition from its rulers was a far cry from the church's image of a king.
Faced with the confirmation of his role, the expectation to marry and produce heirs seemed almost more terrifying than the war looming on the horizon. But what truly crushed him was turning his back on his relationship with the man he loved in favor of one that would satisfy the court.
With battle closing in and the kingdom looking to him for answers, one wrong move could destroy everything he had worked to protect. The enemies were not only at the gates-they were in his court, watching for any sign of weakness. Yet, as the pressure of leadership mounted, Nicolas realized that the greatest threat he faced was not the war but the truth of who he was.
