On the prosperous lands of Rajputana, where honor and vengeance are etched into the soil, two souls are shackled by destiny's merciless hand.
Kunwar Yashvardhan Singh Aryavardhan, the prince as cold and calculating as the steel of his blade, shaped by duty but scarred by betrayal. And Vasundhara Kanwar Shailendri, a fierce princess with fire in her veins, unwilling to bend to anyone...not even him. Their union is meant to bring peace to their kingdoms, but the truth buried beneath their vows is anything but peaceful.
They share a past, one drenched in promises and shattered by betrayal.
Once, their love burned with an intensity that defied reason, two hearts caught in the chaos they created. But a ruthless twist, an irreversible betrayal, shattered everything they built. Now, forced into marriage by fate, every glance is filled with seething hatred...and an undeniable, dangerous attraction they can't escape.
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"You were everything to me, Yashvardhan. But now, all that's left is anger and disgust. How could you accuse me of breaking your trust, when it was your lack of faith that shattered everything between us? You broke us, Kunwar sa. Losing you was unbearable, but your distrust and accusations only added insult to my injury."
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"Then why does it feel like a dagger twisting through my chest every time I look at you? Your smiles, once my haven, now haunt me...scarred into my soul. I still crave the moments we shared, even knowing they're tainted. How could something so pure turn into this hollow ache? But worse, how could I ever hate someone I once loved so deeply and still long for?"
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But as they navigate their new life, where love and hate walk a razor-thin line, they face threats that seek to tear them apart once more. Betrayal, jealousy, and political schemes lurk in the shadows, testing every oath they made and every vow they break.
Just when she's decided to leave the Town, Lady Cressida Belverst is forced to marry Lord Calan Haverston, the man who coincidentally knows a way out. Agreeing to marry for all the wrong reasons, can Cressida and Calan find out where their hearts truly belong?
***
It is impossible to leave the Town, but one woman is determined to escape with the help of her betrothed.
Lady Cressida Belverst has always been judged as a walking scandal. Oh, how she tries (on some rare occasions) to be proper! When her parents arrange for her to marry a rich lord, Cressida has had enough. She has to leave the Town because she will not be forced to live with a man she doesn't love. But what happens if the very man she's betrothed to is the only one who can help her get out?
Calan Haverston, the Lord of Easton, takes the risk and helps his betrothed by using his knowledge of the Town's secrets because he is as willing as she to stay free of marriage for reasons completely different. He has dark secrets he cannot share with her, and his life is not one he can likewise open to anyone. But what happens when she leaves after awakening desires he thought he has under control? And what happens when he finds himself longing for her?
Cressida goes to a completely different place, one she has only heard in stories and read in books, with hopes of finding what her heart has always longed for. But love, mystery and secrets will chase her and it will only be a matter of time before she realizes what her heart truly desires.
*This story is a standalone title in the Haverston Family series.