Stolen by the Rebel King

Asaprincessthatcouldnotwieldmagic,PrincessDaphne’sonlyvaluetoherkingdomwasherarrangedmarriage.Thetaskwassimple,butwhenDaphnegetskidnappedandbroughttothecoldmountainsofVramid,sherealizesthatshe’sinoverherhead.Shehadheardofthesecursedmountainsbefore―rockyterrain,freezingtemperatures,andthelandwasruledbyamanfearedbymanywithinthecontinent.KingAtticusHeinvres,theblood-thirstyruleroftheNorth.Eventhoughshehadnevermethimbefore,taleswerespreadofKingAtticus’sruthlessness.Somesaidhewasamonster,othersclaimedhewasthedevilhimself,butwhateverthestorywas,everyoneknewofthemanwhohadpowersbeyondanyone’simagination.Hecouldtopplearmiesandcrumblenationswithjustonewaveofhishand,aidedbywhatothersrumoredtobeacursedobsidianring.NooneoutsideofVramidhadevermetthefearsomekingbefore.NotuntilDaphne.However,uponmeetingtheformidableman,Daphnefoundoutthatthekingmightnotreallybethemonsterothershadclaimedhimtobe.Infact,whatwashiddenunderthatobsidianshieldcouldjustbeadiamondintherough.―[Excerpt]“Now…whereshouldIputyouboth?”heaskedcasually,notexpectingareply.“It’sregretfulthatIonlyhaveonechandelier.”“Underneathmybed?No,no,toodirty.Mydustbunniesdon’tdeservethis,”Atticusmusedtohimself.“Themantlepiece?Howaboutthevanitytable?IsupposeifIlopoffoneofyourheadsIcouldmountitover…Wife,whichheaddoyouwanttostareatwhileyoudoyourhair?”“Atticus!”Daphnescreamed.“Idon’twantanyheads!Letthemgo.”“Fairenough.”Atticusshrugged,andflickedhisfingers.Thereweretwoidenticalcracksasbothneckssnappedatonce.Daphnegasped,horrified.Thisman,herhusband,hadjustkilledtwomenwithaflickofhisfinger,asthoughhewassnuffingoutcandles.“Itoldyoutoletthemgo!”Daphnecriedout.“Yes,Iletthemgo,”Atticussaid.Then,hiseyesdarkened.“Toreceivedivinejudgmentfromtheheavens.”―