Princess Mandy had always dreamed of a fulfilling life beyond the governor's mansion, a life free from the confines of her arranged marriage to either the charming but overbearing Prince or the filthy rich but deceiving other Prince. That is, until the Former First Sergeant Saint came into her lifea stoic and devoted bodyguard with a secret, dark past. With the impending nuptials looming like a storm cloud, she hatched a daring escape plan.
However, fate had other plans for her. Captured by a group of ruthless mercenaries, Mandy's future grew darker by the minute. In a desperate attempt to protect the princess, Max declared Mandy his wifea web of lies that could erupt at any moment.
Max is a man on a mission, training relentlessly for a job that could secure Mandy's future. With each passing day, their fake marriage grows more complex, their connection goes deeper, and the line between duty and desire becomes increasingly blurred.
As danger looms and the truth threatens to surface, Mandy and Max find themselves in a race against time, navigating a treacherous path of deception, love, and sacrifice. Can they outwit their way out and build a future together, or will the secrets they harbour tear them apart forever?
Join Mandy and Max on an enthralling journey where a fake marriage may just lead to an entanglement neither of them saw cominga love worth fighting for.
ABOUT THIS BOOK:
This book can be read as a standalone. This book is also a hybrid sequel as the second book in The Ark of the Shadow-Workers: Archipelago Legend, Myth, and Folklore Retelling Book Series and as the third book in the Max Saint Book Bundle. Since the authors write for different audiences and genres, we publish the story in separate books.
FAIR WARNING:
This publication contains explicit language, explicit romance scenes, and unnatural mortality. Readers' discretion is advised. This work of fiction is NOT suitable for minors.
EXCERPT 1:
Our eyes meet through the mirror. "Tell me not to go, and I won't."
It took him a few moments before he said, "It's not my place, princess."
"You're a man yourself. And I trust you. Tell me which one to marry." Locking our eyes together through reflections, I was waiting for his answer. A part of me was hoping for him to say his own name.
"As I said, princess, it's not my place."
"Do you believe in the afterlife, reincarnation, rebirth, or whatever you may call it?"
"Yeah, I've been there. Sometimes it's in the same cycle. You know... when they kill someone inside you, and then you're no longer the same person."
Smiling at his reflection, I said, "Maybe in another life you can find me. I'm going to marry you in that life, Max. I meant it when I said that I trust you."
EXCERPT 2:
"Um, Max," said Mandy while squeezing my arm.
Turning my face towards her, I could see those people pointing their guns at her head.
"Your gun is wet, soldier. Theirs aren't." He slammed my gun and pulled my forearm closer to him. "Be grateful for my generosity. As I said before, you can stay. You've got the skills for shadow-working, but she doesn't. And she's seen too much already."
"Sheshe's my wife."
EXCERPT 3:
"I stole you from the Angel of Death. Every breath of air you take into those lungs belongs to me, princess. So before you breathe out a single word from this mouth, remember that this mouth belongs to me. It's mine to kiss, or whatever I want to do with it."
Those words hit my core instantly. I didn't know how he did it, but my core told me to surrender myself to him. "Mmh... Max."
"That's right. You can always moan my name. Screaming it would be better. So tell me, what are you?"