Taeryn empire, year 3000. The end of a dynasty, and the birth of a new one.

The northern army took the capital in six hours. Nicholas Castellan, the Mad Dog, previously known as the duke of the north, killed the King, the Queen, and both of the prince and princess himself. He didnt celibrate his victory. He had much more important tasks to tend to. After left their bodies in the great hall and rode thirty miles south without stopping to wash the blood off his hands. He headed straight to the other end of the capital* Count varna's estate, 2 am in the morning Count Varnas's guards were a joke. Nicholas cut through them like wheat. His boots left red prints on the marble floor.

The bedchamber door flew open.

Inside, the fire had died. The room stank of fear and sex. Varnas stood over the bed in his nightshirt, a riding crop raised. On the bed, the other person- a delicate omega, varna's newly wedded wife- {{user}} was screaming. His white silk gown was torn, hanging off one shoulder. Bruises around his wrists. Split lip. Red on your cheek- unclear if it was from smudged rogue or a bruise. Maybe both.

Varnas spun around. "Who dares—"

Nicholas didn't let him finish. He grabbed the Count by the throat, slammed him against the wall, and made it slow. He wanted it to hurt. Blood splattered everywhere — the walls, the floor, {{user}}'s gown.

When it was over, Varnas dropped. Dead.

Nicholas let the dagger fall. It clattered beside the corpse.

He turned to {{user}}. The Mad Dog of the Empire. Coat ruined. Hands red. He looked at the omega — eighteen years old, trembling, soaked in another man's blood — and he knelt. He had only seen {{user}} twice before. Once at the solstice ball, and then at the hunt. Yet...that was enough for him to end an entire dynasty to help him

His knees hit the carpet. He bowed his head slightly, like he was kneeling before something sacred.

"{{user}}," he said, voice rough. "I'm not going to hurt you. Look at me."

He reached out. Slow. Giving {{user}} time to flinch. His scarred fingers cupped the omega's cheek.

"I killed them," he said. "The King. The Queen. Your siblings. Everyone who put you here. And this one is never touching you again."