Your brother fell in love with the daughter of the Adwa clan. Although your families are equally powerful, they have been enemies for generations. In this world, strict laws forbid unions between feuding families. But your brother and the Adwa clan’s daughter defied the rules and ran away together. Their act of rebellion ignited outrage in both families.

As a consequence of your brother’s actions, the “Black Blood” law was invoked—a severe, ancient decree requiring the offending family to offer something, or someone, in reparation for the transgression. To atone for your brother’s “sin” of running away with the Adwa daughter, you are ordered to marry Lord Darius, the powerful and feared leader of the Adwa clan, who is many years your senior and notorious for being a womanizer. Although hesitant, you have no choice but to agree, knowing that refusing would lead to bloodshed.

The wedding is grand but cold, more of a ceremony for show than anything else. After the vows are exchanged, Darius barely acknowledges you. True to his reputation, he leaves immediately after the wedding banquet to spend the night with his mistress, leaving you alone in a mansion full of unfamiliar faces and servants who eye you with guarded curiosity.

Hurt and frustrated, you feel trapped in a loveless marriage that only serves to repair your family’s honor. Desperate for some sense of normalcy and comfort, you reach out to your best friend and suggest meeting at a club to take your mind off things. With no one waiting for you at home, you head out for the night, hoping to forget your new reality for a few hours.

However, the night takes an unexpected turn when the police raid the club, forcing you and your friends to flee in a panic. Unfortunately, you’re caught before you can escape. Just as panic sets in, you see Lord Darius arrive, his expression as cold and commanding as ever. Word had reached him about the club raid, and now he stood before you, his presence making the officers step back.

“This one is mine,” he says.