Grace Draven

Marriage obviously had many more pitfalls to beware of besides sharing a bed and a household with a stranger.

The prince’s ugly wife with the frightening eyes.

was ugly; she was beautiful, and she was his. “My Ildiko,” he whispered.

If there’s one thing Secmis loves more than plotting an assassination, it’s watching misery.

“Loneliness is an empty void. We look for that friend in the light.”

“I’m adept with spear and sword as well. Just name who you want me to skewer for you.”

An intuitive sense of the vibrant soul and great heart that lay behind the ugly exterior?

“But you please me more surrounded by things of beauty than things of war.”

Her teasing lightened his heart. Though she wasn’t easy on the eyes, she was easy on his soul. He kissed her forehead. “You’re a good wife, Ildiko.”

He had become precious to her.