She lit the wrong ship on fire.
Now she wakes up in my fortress, wearing my brand.
They sentenced her to die in the arena.
I overruled them.
Not to save her.
To own her.
She’s angry. Defiant. All sharp teeth and spit.
But I’ve seen defiance before.
It cracks.
She’ll eat when I say. Sleep when I allow.
Speak only when spoken to.
And when her fire dims,
I’ll light it again—on her knees, at my feet, begging for the control she swore she’d never surrender.
I branded her to protect her from the Senate.
But now?
I’ll keep her caged until she loves the lock.
Read on for: brutal warden energy, brand as collar, power play dynamics, sworn enemies, and a heroine who thought death was the worst fate—until she met him. HEA guaranteed.