The grandest ball of the century was nothing more than a gilded cage.

Princess Anastasia Swan stood at the edge of the ballroom, her spine rigid, her gloved fingers clenched around her champagne flute like a lifeline. The air smelled of rose oil and sin, the chandeliers dripping gold light onto the sea of Europe’s most powerful royals.

And yet, she had never felt more alone.

"I shouldn’t have come."

But Isabella,king Ivander’s younger sister and her only true friend in this viper’s nest of crowns and daggers had begged her. "One night, Ana. Just one night. For me."

So here she was"Trapped."

Across the room, he watched.

King Ivander Harrison lounged on his throne like chair, a goblet of wine dangling carelessly from his fingers as he entertained a circle of princes. But his gaze dark, ravenous, possessive was fixed solely on her.

Ana’s breath hitched.

She had hoped he wouldn’t notice her. That for once, his obsession would falter.

But no.

His lips curled into a smirk as their eyes met a silent challenge. "You can’t ignore me forever."

She quickly looked away, her heart pounding.

Because the worst part wasn’t his obsession.It was the way her body burned under his stare.

The music swelled, a waltz meant for lovers.

Ana kept her eyes locked on the marble floor, counting the seconds until she could escape. But then a shadow fell over her.

The scent of dark spice and sin wrapped around her before his voice did.

"Princess."

Her stomach twisted.

King Ivander stood before her, his broad frame blocking her from the crowd. His black royal coat hugged his shoulders like a second skin, the gold embroidery glinting under the chandeliers,a king dressed as a conqueror.

And she was his intended prey.

Ana lifted her chin, forcing ice into her voice. "get lost."

Ivander smirk deepened. He leaned in, his breath a hot whisper against her ear.

"Make me."

The challenge sent a traitorous shiver down her spine.

Before she could react, his hand seized hers, his grip firm enough to bruise. The crowd gasped as he yanked her against his chest, his other hand settling possessively on her lower back.

"Don’t touch me your majesty ," she hissed, but the orchestra began playing a waltz.

Ivander eyes burned. "You’d embarrass Spain by refusing your host?"

A threat. A game.

Ana had no choice.

As he spun her across the floor, his fingers dug into her waist, his voice a velvet growl "You ignored my letters."

*"I burn them."*

His laugh was dark. *"Liar. You read every one."*

Her pulse betrayed her, racing where their bodies touched.

"I hate you,"she whispered.

Ivander’s thumb brushed the bare skin above her chest,a caress that felt like a possession.

"Then why,"he murmured, "do you tremble when I touch you?"

Suddenly the final note of the waltz shuddered into silence.

Ana tore herself from Ivander’s grasp, her chest heaving. Without meeting his eyes, she dipped into a swift curtsy,a hollow act of respect then turned on her heel running away from the monster that she calls him.

Her slippers barely touched the marble as she wove through the crowd, ignoring the murmurs of shocked nobles. The terrace doors beckoned freedom, cold air, escape from his suffocating presence.

Outside, on the moonlit terrace, she gripped the stone railing, gasping. London’s skyline blurred below her.

"Stupid. So stupid to come here"

A hand clamped over her mouth.

"Leather,Spice,Fury"

Ivander spun her around, slamming her back against the balcony’s edge. His body caged hers, his other hand gripping her throat not to hurt, but to claim.

"You bow to me,"he snarled, "then flee like a thief?"

Ana shoved against his chest."Let me go, you monster!"

His thumb stroked her pulse point, feeling her racing heartbeat. "Liar. You want me to chase you."

The truth burned her cheeks.

Somewhere inside, the orchestra began a new song.

Ivander’s lips hovered over hers, his breath hot."Tell me to stop."

But then his mouth crashed down on hers.

And the princess of Spain forgot how to breathe.

Ana's hands flew up, fingers tangling in Ivander's hair to pull him away, she told herself. Not to keep him there. Not to feel those ruthless lips devour her like she was his last prayer.

She bit down hard on his lip.

Ivander jerked back, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyes burned wild in the moonlight, chest heaving. For the first time, the untouchable king looked shaken.

"You dare"

"I dare."Ana's voice shook, but she stood taller. "You may be a king, but I am no subject to be claimed."

A muscle ticked in his jaw. He stepped closer, backing her against the balcony rail. "Every breath you take is by my mercy, Princess. That crown on your head?" A gloved finger tapped her tiara. "It's a pretty leash. And I hold the other end."

Her palm connected with his cheek a crack that echoed across the terrace.

Silence.

Ivander turned his face back slowly, a slow, terrifying smile spreading. "Again."

Her hand trembled.

He caught her wrist, pressing her palm to his reddened skin. "If violence is how you need to feel alive, animate me." His voice dropped to a whisper. "But we both know you'd rather use those hands to"

"Enough!" Isabella's voice cut through the door.

They turned.

Ivander's sister stood in the doorway, her gown fluttering in the wind, face pale. "Ana,go inside.i need to teach some manners to my older brother."

Ana wrenched free, fleeing past her friend but not before hearing Ivander's vow:

"See you later"

Isabella slammed the door behind her.

"What in God’s name was that?"

Ivander didn’t look up from his desk, his fingers steepled under his chin. The firelight carved shadows under his eyes, making him look more fallen angel than king.

Isabella stormed forward and slapped both hands on the desk. "You humiliated her. You humiliated Spain."

A muscle twitched in his jaw. "She humiliated me first."

"By existing? By breathing too beautifully for your liking?" Isabella’s voice cracked."She’s my best friend, Ivander. Not your conquest."

For the first time, his gaze flickered to hers icy, impenetrable."You overstep, little sister."

"Someone has to!"She yanked the chair opposite him and sat, leaning in."You’ve been in love with her since we were children. I know. But this?"She gestured wildly toward the terrace. "This isn’t love. It’s madness."

Ivander’s fingers tightened around his quill, ink bleeding onto the parchment. His silence was answer enough.

Isabella sighed, softening."She fears you now. Is that what you want?"

He stared past her, his eyes unfocused. "She wore blue tonight."

Isabella froze.

"The same shade as the ribbons she used to tie in her hair when we were young,"he murmured, more to himself than to her."And when I spun her in the waltz, she… she trembled."His thumb brushed his lower lip, where Ana’s teeth had drawn blood."Like she used to when we’d race our horses and she’d nearly fall, and I’d"

"Ivander."Isabella’s voice was gentle now. "That girl is gone. The Ana you love wouldn’t recognize the man you’ve become."

The clock ticked. The fire spat.

Finally, Ivander pushed back his chair and stood."I’m retiring."

Isabella caught his wrist. "Will you at least try to behave like a gentleman?"

He pulled free with a hollow smile."I’m a king, little sister. I behave as I please."

As the door clicked shut behind him, Isabella whispered to the empty room.

"Then you’ll die a tyrant, not a lover."

Ivander walk inside his bed chamber and shrugged off his coat, letting it pool on the floor like a shadow.

The room smelled of bergamot and gunpowder—**his scent, his chaos.**

He poured himself a drink, then another, until the edges of his vision blurred.

The morning sun bled through the palace windows, painting the marble halls in gold. Ana’s slippered feet whispered against the floor as she hurried toward the gardens, her body still humming with the memory of last night’s chaos.

She had bitten a king.

She had drawn blood.

And yet she had dreamt of him.

A shadow moved.

Before she could react, an iron grip seized her wrist and yanked her into an alcove. Her back hit the wall, the breath knocked from her lungs as a familiar scent enveloped her leather, bergamot, and storm\-tempered rage.

"Running away again, Princess?"

Ivander loomed over her, his morning coat impeccably tailored, his cravat crisp. Only the faint bruise on his lip betrayed the beast beneath.

Ana’s pulse roared in her ears."Let me go,Ivan."

"No."His free hand braced against the wall beside her head, caging her."Not until you explain why you fled like a thief in the night."

She lifted her chin."You know why."

His gaze dropped to her mouth."Because I kissed you?"A dark chuckle."Or because you bit me?"

Heat flooded her cheeks."You..you forced yourself on me!"

"Did I?"He leaned closer, his hot breath on her skin."Then why didn’t you scream?"

Ana’s nails dug into her palms."I hate you."

Ivander’s smirk faltered. For a heartbeat, something raw flickered in his eyes not anger, but pain.

"Liar,"he whispered.

Then his mouth crashed down on hers.

This kiss wasn’t like last night’s. It was hungry, desperate, a king brought to his knees. Ana’s hands flew up—to push him away, to claw at him,something but instead, her fingers tangled in his hair.

A groan rumbled in his chest."Ana"

"No!"She wrenched back, her voice breaking."You don’t get to ruin me and then pretend this is love!"

Ivander stilled."You think I don’t love you?"

"Love?"A hysterical laugh escaped her. "You don’t even know me! The Ana you claim to love is a child from your memories!"

His jaw tightened."I know you fear thunderstorms. That you don’t like giving up from ruling the Spain,I know deep down you want Spain but as a good sister you have to give up the position to your younger brother who’s just 14.i know that you read astronomy books until dawn,you love stars moon everything in the sky."His thumb brushed her cheekbone."I know you, Anastasia Swan.Every version."

Ana’s breath hitched.

Then they hear a cough.

They turned.

Isabella stood at the end of the hall, her arms crossed. "Am I interrupting "

Ivander didn’t release Ana."Leave us alone"

"No."Isabella strode forward, her silk skirts hissing.

"You are ignoring the kings order"

Isabella glares at her brother before leaving Ana clutching the envelope with the royal seal of Spain pressed into wax.

Ivander didn’t release her wrist."Well?"

Ana swallowed, breaking the seal with trembling fingers. The parchment crackled as she unfolded it, her father’s sharp handwriting staring back.

Anastasia

By order of the Crown, you are to remain in London under King Ivander’s tutelage. You will study economics, diplomacy, and statecraft under his guidance. This is not a request. Do not disappoint us.

-His Majesty, King Fredrick of Spain.

The words blurred.

"This couldn’t be real."

Ivander plucked the letter from her grasp, his eyes scanning the lines. A slow, dangerous smile curled his lips."It seems fate agrees with me, Princess."

Ana snatched it back. "You…..you planned this!"

"If I had,"he murmured, leaning in,"do you think I would’ve let you run last night?"

The heat of him, the scent of sandalwood and power, made her head spin. She shoved against his chest."I won’t be your plaything."

Ivander caught her hand, pressing it flat over his heartbeat."No You’ll be my student."His thumb traced her knuckles. "Starting today" "Right now" Ivander drags her to the study room of his chambers.

Ana’s chair scraped against the floor as she jerked away from the desk. "This is ridiculous."

Ivander didn’t look up from the ledger."Sit down."

"No."She stormed to the window, glaring at the gardens below. "You can’t honestly expect me to believe my father wants you teaching me economics."

"Your father wants an alliance."The edge in his voice sharpened."One he thinks you’ll secure by marrying me."

Ana whirled. "What?"

Ivander finally met her gaze, his expression unreadable."Did you think this was about education?"He tossed a document toward her a draft treaty, with clauses about unified trade routes and marital bonds between crowns.

Her stomach dropped. "No."

"Sit. Down."

This time, she obeyed.

For hours, he drilled her tax codes, import tariffs, the delicate dance of royal debts. His voice was cool, detached, infuriatingly professional.But his eyes..dark and hungry, tracking every flicker of her lashes, every frustrated sigh.

When she misquoted a law, he circled behind her, his chest brushing her shoulder as he pointed to the text."Here,Read it again."

Ana’s breath hitched."I..I can’t focus with you hovering."

Ivander’s lips grazed her ear."Then learn faster."

Ana slammed the book shut."Enough."

Ivander arched a brow from his armchair. "Tired already?"

"Bored."She stalked to the shelves, trailing fingers over leather spines."If you’re going to force me into lessons, at least make them interesting."

A rustle of fabric. Then his voice, suddenly close"What would you prefer? Philosophy? Poetry or Romance?"

She turned and froze.

He stood inches away, a volume of Spanish love sonnets in hand. The title mocked her"To the One Who Burns Me."

Ana lifted her chin. "War strategy."

Ivander chuckled, low and rough."Of course."He reached past her, his sleeve brushing her collarbone as he pulled down "The Art of War"."But be warned, Princess.I play to win."

She snatched the book."So do I."

Their fingers brushed.

A spark. A silence.

Then the crash of shattering porcelain.

They jerked apart. A maid stood in the doorway, wide\-eyed, a tray of tea spilled at her feet."F\-Forgive me, Your Majesties!"

Ana stepped back, cheeks burning.

Ivander didn’t move but instead glared at the maid for disturbance"Leave before I kill you."

As the maid fled, his gaze locked onto Ana’s.

"What a rude king"

The dining hall glittered like a gilded cage.

Candlelight flickered over silver platters and crystal goblets, casting long shadows across the faces of the assembled nobles. Ana had tried to sit at the far end of the table anywhere but near him but Ivander’s voice had sliced through the murmuring crowd like a blade:

“Princess Anastasia. Here.”

He’d pointed to the chair at his left. The queen’s seat.

Every eye in the room had snapped to her.

Now, as she perched stiffly on the edge of the velvet cushion, Ana could feel the heat of Ivander’s gaze like a brand.

“Try the roast chicken,” he murmured, forking a slice onto her plate.“It’s been prepared specially for you.”

Ana didn’t touch it.“I’m not hungry.”

A slow smile curled his lips. “Liar.”He smirks and feeds her infront of whole Noblians.

Then she feels the brush of leather against silk.

She was stiffened for a moment.

Under the table, Ivander’s knee pressed against her.She glared at him and kicked him.

The ambassador from France droned on about trade routes, his voice a distant buzz in Ana’s ears.

All she could focus on was the touch.

Ivander’s leg shifted, his calf sliding along hers in a slow, deliberate stroke. The contact burned through her skirts as if the fabric didn’t exist.

Ana jerked her knee away.

Ivander took a sip of wine, his expression perfectly composed as he addressed the table.“The Spanish fleet’s dominance in the Mediterranean is unsettling for some.”His hand dropped below the tablecloth, his fingers tracing the inside of her wrist. “Wouldn’t you agree, Princess?”

Her breath hitched.“I find unsettling is often a matter of perspective, Your Majesty.”

His thumb circled her pulse point.“And what’s your perspective?”

Ana snatched her hand back, reaching for her goblet to hide the tremble in her fingers. “I think fear makes fools of even the wisest men.”

A hushed silence fell over the guests.

Ivander’s eyes darkened. Then, to the room’s shock, he laughed a rich, velvety sound that made Ana’s stomach flip.“A diplomatic answer from our most reluctant student.”

His shoe hooked around her ankle, dragging her foot toward him.

Ana choked on her wine.

By the third course, Ana was ready to stab him with her fork.

Every time she tried to shift away, Ivander found a new way to torment her:

His pinky brushing hers as they reached for the salt.The clink of his signet ring against her water glass a silent toast just for her.And worst of all his knee parting hers under the table, forcing her to either yield or kick him in front of the entire court.

She chose option three.

"Ouch"

Ivander’s grunt was swallowed by the chatter, but his eyes promised retribution.

Ana smiled sweetly.“Apologies, Your Majesty. My foot slipped.”

The ambassador blinked.“Is everything alright?”

“Perfect,”Ivander gritted out. Then, lower, for Ana alone“You’ll pay for that.”

The dessert course arrived a sinful chocolate torte drizzled in raspberry coulis, a dish Ana normally would’ve devoured. But how could she eat when Ivander’s thumb was now tracing slow circles on the inside of her knee beneath the tablecloth?

“You’re not indulging, Princess,”Ivander mused aloud, forking a bite of the torte and holding it toward her lips.“A shame. It’s… exquisite.”

The nobles tittered, mistaking his gesture for chivalry.

Ana clenched her fists in her lap.“I prefer my sweets unspoiled.”

A flash of danger in his eyes.“And yet,”he said, too softly for others to hear,“you seem to enjoy bitter flavors.”His knee nudged hers.“Like the taste of my blood last night.”

Her cheeks burned. She snatched the fork from his hand, her lips brushing the tines as she took the bite. The chocolate was rich, decadent like his voice when he whispered her name in the dark.

Across the table, the French ambassador smirked. “Ah, youth! Such passion in academic debates.”

If only he knew.

The moment the servants cleared the plates from table she rose.“If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen.”

Ivander’s hand shot out, circling her wrist. “We’re not finished.”

“I am.”She wrenched free, ignoring the gasps around them.“Unless you’d like to explain to my father why I’m being held captive at dinner.”

A dangerous pause. Then Ivander leaned back, waving a dismissive hand.“As you wish.”

Ana didn’t look back as she fled but she felt his gaze like a physical touch,glaring her with….

She barely made it to the hallway before an arm hooked around her waist, yanking her into a shadowed alcove.

“You dare disrespect me infront of so many people”

Ivander spun her to face him, his chest heaving.“You humiliated me in there.Do you forgot that I m the king.You should respect me.”

Ana shoved against him.“You deserved it.”

“For what? Wanting you?”His hands caged her face.“For loving you so much it hurts?”

"Let me go"She shoved against his chest, but he crowded her against the wall, his breath hot on her lips.

“No.”His knee slid between hers, pinning her in place.“Not until you admit the truth.”

“What truth?”She spat the words, her nails digging into his wrists.

Ivander’s voice dropped to a growl.“That you liked it.”His thumb brushed the hollow of her throat, feeling her traitorous pulse leap.“That every time I touch you, you melt.”

Ana’s breath hitched.“I hate you.”

“Liar.”His lips grazed her jaw.“You hate that you want me. That even now, your body is begging”

A moan slipped from her as his teeth scraped her earlobe.

Ivander froze.

The sound hung between them a confession neither could take back.

Her breath caught.She knew she was the woman he ever had in his life.She knew he loved her with his whole heart but still there relationship was complicated.

Some footsteps were heard.

They froze.

Isabella’s voice echoed down the hall.“Ana? Where are you?are you there?”

Ivander’s lips ghosted over Ana’s ear.“This isn’t over..I will see you later Princess Anastasia.”

And like smoke, he was gone.no trace of him was left.