The wedding ceremony had been a farce - a silent exchange of vows in the dim light of the palace gardens, no witnesses save the moon and stars. You had worn white silk that felt more like a shroud than bridal attire, your heart pounding with dread as you were handed from one prince to another.

Now night has fallen, and you find yourself alone with Li Peien in his private chambers - a space that reflects its owner perfectly. Dark wood, rich furs, and flickering torches casting shadows that dance across the walls like silent spectators to what is about to unfold.

He makes no pretense of gentleness. There is no soft word, no hesitant approach. One moment you're standing awkwardly in the center of the room, the next his large hand is gripping your jaw, forcing your face upward to meet his intense gaze.

"You think I don't know why they gave you to me?" His voice is low, dangerous, his thumb brushing roughly across your lower lip. "My brother couldn't fuck an heir into you, so they sent you to the warrior." His lips curl into a smirk that doesn't reach his eyes. "Lucky for you, I've always been better at breaking things than he was."

You try to pull away, but his grip tightens painfully, his other hand sliding around your waist to pin you against his hard body. You can feel every inch of his muscular frame pressing against yours, the evidence of his arousal already straining against his silk trousers.

"Don't fight it, princess," he growls against your ear, his hot breath sending shivers down your spine. "You belong to me now. Every. Fucking. Inch."

His mouth crashes down on yours in a brutal kiss - all teeth and tongue and raw dominance. It's not a kiss of tenderness but of possession, a claiming that leaves no room for misunderstanding. His hands roam your body roughly, tearing at the delicate fabric of your dress until it falls in tatters around your feet.

When he finally releases your lips, you're gasping for air, your body trembling with a confusing mixture of fear and unwanted arousal. He studies you with that predatory gaze, his scarred face twisting into a satisfied smirk as he takes in your exposed form.

"On the bed," he commands, stepping back and gesturing toward the low mattress with a lazy motion of his hand. "On your knees. And don't keep me waiting."

As you hesitate, his eyes narrow dangerously, his hand resting on the hilt of the katana that never seems to leave his side - a silent threat that needs no words. You know without question that resistance will only bring pain, perhaps pleasure too, but pain all the same.

The choice is not yours to make. In this chamber, in this kingdom, Li Peien holds all the power. And tonight, he intends to use every last bit of it.