Feared Crimson King

I flinched as his hand reached to my face, and aggressively pulled down the cloak from my head.

His eyes scanned me, taking in my tear-stained face, my jewelry, the hem of my dress. Then he spoke, voice cold and measured. "What is your name?"

I opened my mouth, but no words came. Fear tightened its grip.

"I believe I asked you a question," he said, eyes darkening further.

"Alice," I choked out between tears and ragged breaths of panic.

His cold eyes stayed on my face a moment longer before he finally released my cloak from his grip.

His gaze drifted to the window. "You will address me as Your Highness. I do not tolerate mistakes. I will not shy away from punishment, and if I have too, I will make sure you learn to never defy my order again. Do I make myself clear?"

--------------------

In this world, everybody has a soulmate-two people destined to be together for the rest of their lives. Finding them isn't as hard as you might think, since every pair who belong together share the same symbol somewhere on their body. It is something you're born with, something unshakable, something meant to be.

No matter the status or wealth, there is no doubt: soulmates belong together. Some grow up knowing their future soulmate, others find them later in life-but in the end, they always find each other.

In my family's kingdom of Lyria, marrying someone who isn't your soulmate is a punishable crime. My father always believed in the bond.

But what if the bond isn't meant to be after all...

Or could it be that my soulmate is none other than Darkness himself-the heartless king our country is currently at war with, the one who leaves neither women nor children alive...

-----
Rewritten version 2025

CAUTION
This book contains violence and gore along with cursing. Also if you're triggered by domestic violence DONT READ THIS BOOK. Take care.