Cassian’s POV

I sat on the white-painted bench, the scent of fresh-cut grass and clean air a stark contrast to the sterile, tense atmosphere of the meeting room.

Minister Richard’s words echoed in my head, the audacity of his proposition leaving me reeling. He was a ruthless man, I knew that. But to so brazenly offer his daughter in exchange for a campaign, to so calmly suggest I abandon my pre-arranged marriage, was another level of cold calculation.

My first instinct was to refuse. ...