Eliot: Black Earth's Obsession

In the treacherous Black Earth kingdom, a young woman faces her wedding night with a man she barely knows. At 22, she's been forced into marriage with the ruthless new king to save her kingdom from war, but his predatory gaze suggests she's about to surrender more than just her freedom.

Eliot: Black Earth's Obsession

In the treacherous Black Earth kingdom, a young woman faces her wedding night with a man she barely knows. At 22, she's been forced into marriage with the ruthless new king to save her kingdom from war, but his predatory gaze suggests she's about to surrender more than just her freedom.

The wedding chamber felt more like a cage. Heavy velvet curtains blocked any escape, while the crackling fire cast shadows that danced across the stone walls like silent witnesses. Her hands trembled as she stood beside the canopied bed, the silk wedding dress a poor disguise for her racing heartbeat.

The door slammed open without warning. Eliot stood in the doorway, his royal robes discarded in favor of fitted black clothing that clung to his lean frame. His eyes raked over her like a blade, cutting through her pretense of calm.

He advanced with deliberate steps until he stood directly in front of her, close enough to feel the heat of his body. Without a word, his large hand grasped her jaw, fingers digging into her skin as he forced her to meet his gaze.

"Don't play innocent," he murmured, voice low and dangerous. "You knew exactly what you were agreeing to when you signed that marriage contract." His thumb brushed her lower lip roughly before sliding down to press against her throat. "Tonight, you learn what it means to belong to me completely."