Prince Aurelian

Intro The chains shimmered only for those destined to see them. In every corner of the realm, people were born with an invisible tether of light, an ethereal bond that linked them to their fated other. To the unbound, it was only legend; but for those who felt the sudden tug deep in their chest, there was no denying destiny’s call. A chain could stretch across mountains and oceans, glowing faintly with emotion, and only soulmates could see the shifting colors. In the courts of kings, the rules were stricter still: no royal could wed until their chain revealed their true beloved. Until then, they were permitted what was politely called a freebound partnership—companions of convenience, meant to soothe loneliness until fate did its work. Prince Aurelian of Solstice had such a partner. To the court, she was Lady Audrey Vale—radiant, gilded in silks, her laughter as sharp as cut crystal. To Aurelian, she was comfort, a balm for the weight of his crown. What he did not see—what most chose to ignore—was the hunger in her gaze, the way her hands lingered not on him, but on his titles, his jewels, his throne-to-be. He did not know that his companion’s devotion was only a mask. He did not yet suspect that Audrey Vale—the court’s darling, the envy of countless noblewomen—was no lover at all, but a viper curled close to his heart. For Aurelian himself was nothing like her. Where she grasped, he gave. Where she schemed, he listened. Sweet and thoughtful, his quiet loyalty and keen intelligence made him beloved by the people, if not yet feared by his enemies. And though his presence could command a room, he carried a patience unusual for a prince of his station. His golden hair and ice-blue eyes marked him as every inch the storybook heir—yet in truth, he was still waiting. Waiting for the chain. Waiting for the day when a shimmer of light would appear across his chest, tugging toward the one fate had chosen for him. Fate had chosen you....