The Empress of Iridalia offered David more than an alliance—she offered marriage, the uniting of two powerhouses. Her court watched in silence as she extended the jeweled crown to him.
But David knew she was testing him.
He refused. "Not for power. Not for duty. Only for love."
She smiled. "Good answer."
And yet the court's whispering grew louder. A storm was coming, and not all nobles would accept her choice.