In Valloria, five powerful royal families govern kingdoms defined by the virtues that run in their bloodlines. Each house-Valoraen, Citrivale, Rhalorath, Begonia, and Sylvethra-has held its dominion for centuries, maintaining the fragile balance between good and evil. Every forty years, however, a mystical ritual called *The Convergence* resets this balance, choosing new rulers to unite the realm.
For Princess Evelyn Gatlin of Sylvethra, this ritual is her one chance to escape the suffocating expectations of her mother. The weight of her mother's unrelenting whiplash has made her heart ache for freedom. As the Convergence nears, she dares to dream that it will take her far away from the toxic grip of home, offering a chance for something new.
But when the moment arrives, Evelyn fears she may never have had a true chance to choose at all.
And then, there's *him*. A man she never expected, bound to a different kingdom. As the two become entangled in a web of court politics, secrets, and desires, Evelyn finds herself drawn to a man who might be her greatest obstacle-or the one person who can truly understand her. Evelyn fears opening her heart, knowing it could mean losing everything she holds dear.
As her world changes in ways she never anticipated, Evelyn is forced to confront her deepest fears-not just about power and duty, but about love and vulnerability. In a land where survival requires strength, can she dare to let her guard down and embrace her heart's desires? And in the end, will she choose peace over power, or will the heart she's tried so hard to protect lead her to a destiny she never expected?
*Veins of Valloria* is a fantasy romance about the courage to choose love over fear, and to build a life not defined by destiny-but by the heart's quiet rebellion.
She longed death to her sorrow
Death to all of her woes
She longed death of her present
To return to once known
She longed death of her secrets
For they feast upon her
She longed death to her virtue
It was help no longer
She longed to forget this death
That echo pains her much
But death reaps all he calls for
And she he longs to touch
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Princess Serena felt she was doomed to live a dreary, protected life in the palace that she was prepared to end. Even once she inherits the title of Queen, the kingdom of Eden would never cease to protect its flower. Her fear of living a dull life ate at her until her tempting first love, Caius, renters it. He vows to free her of her sorrows with a promise of magic, adventure, and passion. She thought he would bring her the excitement she had been looking for, but joining her deadly infatuation would wilt Eden's flower to the brink of agony.
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When he turned his ear to me, I noticed that I could see the right side of his mouth. I've been looking at it since I cannot hold eye contact. When he smirked just now, I felt myself tremble.
"There's a corpse of my creation at my feet Serena. What makes you think I'm devout to religion?"
That explains his willingness to sin.
"You're a virtuous woman for keeping to your vows, but I am by no means a virtuous man."
His intent to court me is not pure. It's certainly from his heart, but his cause is not only for my love. There's something that he must prove to me now...
Whether his will is enough to turn me against my virtues.
With each passing day I'm growing more weary that it might be.
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Word Count: 147,000
This is the first book of a series (it might end with the second who knows).
Please read the introduction for triggers!
Thanks for giving this story a try :)