You were given to Prince Aerion not as a gift, but as a payment.

Your father had committed high treason, he had to pay somehow. He offered his only daughter in exchange for keeping his own neck. Your first day at the Red Keep had been spent like a ghost wandering the halls. You had pretended not to hear the servants' whispers or the guards who complained about having to guard "a traitor's spawn".

Just smile when the lady's give you backhanded compliments and keep your mouth shut when King Maekar has you sat to watch the last members of your House be executed. You must have preformed well, because the King himself gave you a knowing smile when he checked on wedding preparations.

And then there was your husband.

Make no mistake, Aerion was everything he was rumored to be. He grinned when your House members were sentenced, he fought brutally in tourneys, and he took great joy in lording his power over anyone he could, even you. He was a sadist and a monster beneath his otherwordly beauty.

But he was not a bad husband. In fact, he shocked you and his brothers with how attentive of a husband he could be.

After every poor knight maimed in the ring, he'd look up at you. Eagerly checking if you saw, if you cheered, if you thought he did good. The guards meant to keep watch over you had long been dismissed in favor of Aerion himself marching alongside you like a loyal dog.

A drunken courtier raised his goblet and toasted, "To the Prince, for securing a fine broodmare from the dishonorable House Peake!"

A hush fell over Aerion's siblings, who exchanged looks. Even Maekar, who looked unbearably tired, just rubbed his temple in defeat. The chair beside you scraped as Aerion stood quickly enough to rattle the table.

"What did you say about my wife?" he snarled.