stringofhearts
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Beautiful but cold, Prince Laurent of Arles has vowed to marry only the one to best him in a footrace. The winner will get his hand in marriage - and the power and influence that come with it - but the price of failure is death.
The latest in a long string of suitors to attempt Laurent’s challenge and lose is Prince Kastor of Ios. Damen, desperate to save his brother’s life, travels to Arles himself to participate in the race. Once there, however, he quickly realizes that Laurent desires to marry him about as much as he desires to marry Laurent - that is to say, not at all.
Rather than risk being trapped in a marriage that would make them both miserable, they agree to a different wager: if Damen wins the race, Laurent will let Kastor go, but if he loses, Damen will have to stay in Arles for a year, doing Laurent’s bidding.- Language:
- English
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Bookmarked by stringofhearts
21 Jul 2025
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Laurent was crowned on the next full moon. He knelt in the damp grass, as Herode held the Erlking’s crown over his head, and the whole forest held its breath.
Laurent dipped his head, and Herode placed it on his brow. The woven circlet of brambles gleamed black in the waning moonlight, the berries red and shining and smooth, full to bursting. It settled into place slowly, nestled into his hair, the thorns not quite piercing his skin.
Afterwards, the revelries began, sumptuous and wild enough that those who had attended would be telling the tale for generations. Laurent smiled and charmed and flattered. He danced with a dark-haired maiden with skin like bark and a dress made of small, translucent bones. He took a wild, reckless ride on the back of a golden-eyed pooka, and they galloped over streams and across valleys and in thin, winding paths that sneaked among the trees. With a man who had eyes like an owl and teeth like a wolf, Laurent shared fizzy wine that tasted like laughter and looked like sunlight.
- Language:
- English
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Bookmarked by stringofhearts
21 Jul 2025
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“I hate you,” Laurent says, heart hammering in his chest. He regrets the words the moment they’re out of his mouth.
Auguste leans back as though Laurent has physically struck him, mouth open.
(Laurent sneaks out one morning. Auguste is, quite understandably if you asked him, very worried.)
Bookmarked by stringofhearts
24 Jun 2025
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I will find you, Anharion had said. I will always find you.
Try to run.But of course Sarcean had taken his words as a warning, rather than a threat. Because why run when you could lay a trap.
Bookmarked by stringofhearts
22 May 2025
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Caught on the brink of destruction under the overwhelming force of the invading Eastern Empire, Prince Valerian makes the hard decision to accept a peace treaty instead. That it means he'll now be a hostage married to the man he swore to fight to his last dying breath is only the start of everything he finds offensive about it, but his people come first.
He tells himself that he will never stop hating the man who forced this choice upon him. He tells himself a lot of things, and can only hope that all of them stay true.
- Language:
- English
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- 14,864
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Bookmarked by stringofhearts
12 May 2025