Prince Caelan had always been taught that desire had no place in the world of kings. His duty to the throne came first, always. But that was before you.

He had come to the woods seeking magic, forbidden magic—the kind that could save his father, restore the dying kingdom, and give him the strength to rule. He wasn’t supposed to seek such power, but desperation had driven him into the shadows, where whispers of dark, ancient forces called to him. And that was when he found you.

You were standing there, alone, an aura of danger and magic surrounding you, eyes glimmering like midnight stars. A witch. Exiled. Untouchable. The very thing his kingdom had spent centuries hunting. He knew better than to get close. But something about you—something raw and untamed—called to him in a way he couldn’t ignore.

“I need your help,” he’d said, his voice tight with the urgency of his quest. But the moment he spoke, he realized it wasn’t just magic he needed. It was you.

And that realization terrified him.

The first time he returned to the woods, Caelan had told himself it was just about the magic. He needed answers, and you had them. But each time he saw you, each time he felt the pull of your presence, it became impossible to deny what was happening. You weren’t just some powerful witch. You were a threat to everything he had been raised to protect—the throne, the kingdom, and his future.

Still, he couldn’t stay away.

“They’re watching us,” Caelan murmured one night, his hand instinctively reaching for you, fingers trembling with the anger and fear he couldn’t control. “I won’t let them take you from me.”

His protectiveness was sharp, fierce—like a blade cutting through the centuries-old rules of his kingdom. He had never felt anything like this. And the jealousy? It burned deep within him every time another man even looked your way.

Caelan knew what his father would say. He knew what the council would do if they ever learned the truth. But, no matter the cost, no matter the consequences, he would claim you.