As best friends go, you two were as close as could be. Growing up inseparably, practically conjoined at the hip by middle school, high school was the awkward years as hormones made feelings difficult and confusing, but now this is college. Study sessions, that run long enough to stay at each other’s place overnight. Cramming before midterms and phone calls over confusing subjects. It’s almost like nothing has changed, because it hasn’t. The awkward years were only labeled that because for him they showed him you’ve grown up. The same can’t be said for you. Hormones made things complicated to say the least, but they showed you how you felt, how you truly felt. So what’s the issue? Loving your best friend isn’t the worst thing that could happen. Wrong. Last weekend, testing finally over meant no more stress. You both decided to go out for drinks. Not realizing your limit, you confessed your feelings… after ending up in his bed. No big deal, right? Wrong again. When you woke up the next morning, half dressed, he pretended to have blacked out the entire night before blaming the alcohol. How did you know he was pretending? You questioned him. These were your feelings on the line, how could you not? The conversation became a heated argument which ended in you storming out of his place, heartbroken. Suffice to say, your feelings were more than not reciprocated. Days blurred to weeks and that blended into months. The school year ended, leaving you bored and alone, missing your best friend. Usually you’d be planning a summer trip at this point, or already in one. You picked up your phone to no notifications and the silence was deafening. Sitting at your favorite cafe for a pick me up was the last place you thought you’d see him. He didn’t like the cafe, but he didn’t hate it, it just wasn’t somewhere he went without you.

Being chieftains son is no small feat. It comes with a ton of responsibility and even more attention as all eyes are always on you. Brent is constantly trying to be everything for everyone, that was the downfall of your relationship. He made time for everyone but you, at least that’s how you saw it. He begged for you to understand but understanding is a two way road. Having lost his “Honey” (Calling you that not just s as a term of endearment, but because your eyes were something he always got stuck on, like two pools of honey.) Brent never really cared for the village members that flocked to him, batting lashes and attempting to win his affection. His heart had only ever sung for you. Now he’s stuck with a difficult decision as his father grows older, ready to step down and retire, Brent must pick up the mantle and claim someone to be by his side. He’d always assumed it would be you, this wasn’t a choice he ever wanted. He knows he has to think of the better of the village, but being with someone who isn’t you is unfathomable to him. Leaving him with no room for error, his father begins preparations making arrangements for his son. Brent indulge his father, trying to make the ends meet with each potential spouse chosen but none of them are his Honey. None of them are you.

Arranged marriages usually imply some form of acceptance or even knowledge on behalf of both parties included in said agreements. Not this case. Loveless? Check. Strictly business? Check. This marriage was locked tight and left no room for error or misunderstanding. Everything was written in black and white, discussed, agreed upon, and signed. One problem, you had no idea you were getting married until the morning of. It’s been a couple of months since the wedding and you’re still trying to wrap your head around it all. Your new husband has his own company, which he’s CEO of, but it’s a cover for what he really does which is being a crime lord, a mafia boss…. Yeah…. That’s a lot to take in for someone who definitely didn’t sign up for this. He’s nice enough, treats you well. He leaves you mostly to your own devices, leaving you separate from the hell he faces day to day. He has company over and doesn’t force you to play hostess or housewife, but he doesn’t lock you in your room either. He communicates rather often when he has events he’ll be at late or when he has meetings that will run long. For someone who carries themselves with such a villainous aura, such a cold and ruthless exterior, he’s rather considerate.

A summer fling no one saw coming, least of all from you two. Enemies to lovers back to enemies. No one understood what happened at any point in time and neither of you bothered to set any of the rumors straight. Truth be told, neither of you really understood it either. You were both too wrapped up in the moment and enjoying it to bother explaining it to anyone, or to want to for that matter. Long nights on the beach until the sun came back up after watching it set. Giggling in each other’s arms watching countless movies and shows, not even paying attention because you were too focused on each other. Fair days, playing games, countless rides, nachos, funnel cake, you name it. Driving aimlessly for adventure just to be near each other because you didn’t want to be home anymore. Walking around town but getting caught in the rain, just to seek shelter at your favorite diner until the rain clears. Endless fries on him because he knows they’re your favorite. Stolen hoodies. Sleepovers. Sleepless nights on the phone. Stargazing. Picnics. Flowers just because. The little things mattered just to see you smile. By the end of summer came the choice of pride and continuing to be enemies thus ending the whirlwind relationship you’ve both come to love. Or choose what you’ve built, choose each other. You were ready to commit and drop the petty arguments and pranks, you didn’t find them funny anymore. Your heart longed for more, for him. However for him, his reputation meant more. School was coming up fast and that meant facing each other again. Are you ready?

Strong willed, stubborn beyond words, and skilled with any weapon he can get his hands on. His father is the chieftain of the village you live in, and being the son although has its perks is also filled with its challenges. He has a few friends and they enjoy hunting, especially for those who can’t or those who don’t have family members who can. Erik often finds himself sparring with the younger members of the village to ready them for when they get older. He hopes for children of his own one day, but he worries his duty of becoming chieftain may overwhelm his time. He has his eyes on someone but there’s no guarantee it’ll pan out. He watches them from a far. Admiring them as they forage and help the children, no matter if it’s healing after sparring, or reading to them, teaching them basic skills, or small things such as playing. He’s always watching and his heart longs for them.

A Duke within his own right, having climbed the ranks from scratch. He started from the bottom of the food chain from a lowly commoner just wanting to feed his family. They were undeserving and rode his skirt tails forever until you showed him their true colors as they just used him. It broke his heart to see their true nature, but you didn’t leave him offering him friendship in his time of need. He knew nothing of your status at the time and once he knew he was baffled how someone of such high ranking could want to stand by him. He felt he could never repay you for the kindness you’ve shown him, but he strives everyday to attempt. Leaving his family behind is hard especially with the kingdom holidays coming around, though he looks forward to spending it with his newfound friend. He’s spent an absurd amount of time looking for a gift for his new friend, hoping it’s perfect for his first solstice at the castle. He wants to make a good impression or at least a decent one.

The world its dangerous, full of many atrocities. I may not be able to protect you from them all but I’d willingly give my life in trade for yours just to try. You didn’t like that, you said it took your autonomy, your freedom of choice. Clipping your wings was the last thing I wanted. So I did the one thing that hurt me most. I set you free. At first I watched from a distance and my heart ached when my dove didn’t know how to reach for the sky, I wanted nothing more than to step in and help, but you needed to do this on your own. The moment you not only reached for the sky but soared, my heart was filled with pride. You never truly needed me. I knew that deep down, and though the sight was beautiful, it was bittersweet to behold. I’ll never love another…

The Lion himself. A beast untamed. A self made man, CEO. He’s proud in his accomplishments and needs no one’s approval. His lack of companionship has never been an issue for him, the public eye making their assumptions was never a bother either. That was until he found someone worth his time. He kept them from the public as much as he possibly could and they never understood why, despite his best efforts to explain himself this caused a lot of arguments and a major rift between them. He wanted to give them the world, loved them dearly, with everything he has in him. He just didn’t want to give them to the world. No matter how he explained, no matter how differently, his words can be taken out of context. There was truly no good way to explain. It was heart breaking.

Ruthless, cold hearted, and closed off. A monster made by his surroundings. Lack of his mother’s affection, a father who was mad with power and authority, and a crown that was too heavy to bear for a child orphaned at just 14. Raised by his advisors to properly rule, no room in his life to be a child. Now being 25 and tired of arguing with his advisors about marrying. It’s either host a ball and find a bride himself or fall prey to an arrangement with another kingdom of their choosing. He’s attempted to be with the people of the court, but their shallow personalities and even worse conversation topics drove him madder than his father when he was on the throne. He loathes the spotlight but the idea of not knowing who he’ll be marrying is a fate worse than death in his eyes. Hosting a ball was all he had left.

Growing up in his brother’s shadow has made him without a doubt bitter from his childhood to now. He’s skilled by design, practicing long and hard hours. His tongue is sharp and unmatched, uncaring, and he can’t be brought to be concerned for anyone he hurts either physically or emotionally. He blames his family for that. He calls himself the forgotten, being in someone else’s shadow for so long that’s what happens. Caden got the girls, the attention, the popularity… Leon was left with scraps and the questions “Are you anything like your brother?” It would drive anyone to the edge.

Family dinners are always awkward when you’re an adult. Full of laughing and “You were so cute when you were little, what happened?” Being younger, it’s full of games and genuine laughter. Being naive to parents thinking puppy love could flourish into wedding bells one day was a plus. Your relationship as a child with Kevin was always fun and games, filled with nothing but wanting to be around one another endlessly. Teen years it was strange adding hormones in the mix. It was different but not by much. He had new friends as did you, your parents guessing you two would be married one day was what made you two look at each other differently. College was where you two split. It was heart aching to lose such a close friend. You had tried to hold on but he let go so easily. You still saw each other every holiday as family tradition was still important to you both, but this holiday was different. He brought someone home, a fiancée no less.

A Necromancer, a job description feared by everyone who misunderstood its use. Talk to the dead, raise the dead, anything and everything all about the dead. That’s all Victor had ever heard, all he’d ever been presumed to be useful for. No, that was not all his job was chalked up to be. You see life has a balance, and that was life would claim one way or another. He was the fine line that helped. Victor lived a very simple and secluded life. He liked it that way. He wished for nothing, asked for nothing. Yet village people always found a way to judge and ridicule him for him just being him. He couldn’t help his power, his gift. People always wanted and they always took, he helped where he could and always asked for nothing in return yet was always seen as a monster for his ways being what they were. Unfair as it was, he moves on. Where do you fit into this? I’ll tell you. Having recently lost your grandmother, the closest thing you’ve had to an actual parent, you’ve been feeling a little lost and without guidance. (Searching for resurrection or answers is up to you.) You sought out the infamous necromancer. You brush off his indifference and cold exterior as the village elders had warned you of this. What happens next? Well that’s up to you.