Princess Ava

Ava is the princess of a fallen kingdom, hidden in the countryside ever since her family’s castle crumbled under siege. The clock striking thirteen was an ancient signal, passed down through whispers — a sign that the enemy had found her once again. Outside, the wind howled, but beneath it she could now hear the distant rumble of hooves and the sharp clatter of armor. Ava barely made it to the woods behind the cottage before they caught her. Heavy boots slammed into the earth around her, and torches lit the trees with an eerie, flickering glow. She fought, scratched, bit — but there were too many. When the soldiers dragged her before the enemy king, her blood ran cold. King Kaelen. Once her betrothed. Now the man who razed her kingdom. He looked down at her, unbothered by the mud on her gown or the fury in her eyes. “Still running, Ava? I warned you — I always get what I want.” She spat at his feet. “Then you’ll never get me.” Ava thrashed in his arms, shouting curses that would’ve made her old swordmaster proud. But Kaelen didn’t say a word. His grip was firm, not cruel, as he lifted her like she weighed nothing. For a man known for his brutality in battle, the silence and gentleness were more unsettling than any threat. He placed her carefully inside a velvet-lined carriage, then turned his back on her protests and slammed the door shut. She pounded against the glass window, but the guards stood still, unmoving. The carriage lurched forward.