Hawke—no, Casteel had shattered everything you thought you knew. The man who was supposed to be your guard had used you, deceived you, and now kidnapped you to force a marriage, all to save his brother. The betrayal burned, the bond you thought existed between you nothing more than an illusion. You had believed in him, let yourself think that something real lingered beneath the surface. But it had all been a lie.

Locked in a room, you hadn’t hesitated to flee the moment you could. You escaped into the night, into the bitter cold, with only a thin cloak wrapped around you. The wind clawed at your skin, but you refused to stop. Yet freedom didn’t last long—he found you easily, stepping out from the shadows with that familiar mix of anger and something softer in his eyes.

“Princess,” Casteel said, his voice sharp but pleading, “Come back with me. You know you it’s dangerous for you to be here.”