Disclaimer: My books always end with happiness. However, it's the middle parts that can be dark and dangerous.

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Since the funeral of Faye's mother, Baroness Grace Montgomery, the rain in Granshope Parrish had persisted, with no sign of it letting up. Three days prior, her ailing and feeble spirit had ascended to the heavens, departing from this wretched land.

It was also the same day that Faye Montgomery learned her future fate from her adopted father, Baron Theo Montgomery.

The imperial order received by the Baron stated that a female child from the Wintershold estate was to be given in contract marriage to Duke Evan Sterling Thayer—the most formidable knight in the Eastcarin empire.

The arranged marriage was to forge peace between the two rival families. After the nuptials, the girl would be taken back to the Duke's lands in Stanhall Lake. Her new home would be at the infamous Everton Fortress near the desolate northern steppes of the empire.

Her stepfather had discovered a way to get rid of Faye and keep his daughter Alice from marrying a barbarian. He would give the Duke the most undesirable child of the family to meet the king's demand, and no one would be the wiser.

As Faye awaited her groom's arrival, her mind pondered on what she could remember hearing about Duke Thayer. Everything she knew was just speculation and rumors.

She had heard from her brother Aaron, who would read her the newspaper, and from the gossip around town that the man was a renowned knight leading a vast army. People began to believe that the Duke had managed to gain his fortune through the stealing of his rival's riches, the taking of treasures from monsters he had killed, and the selling of monster parts and magical stones in the mage's market after slaying them.

Some in the empire had believed that Duke Thayer was a demon, summoned from the depths of Cressa's hell by the Emperor himself to maintain his divine power on the throne. However, Faye did not believe in such fairy tales.

Her understanding of the Duke's current obligation was to serve the King and First Crown Prince of Minbury. His duty; destroying the never-ending streams of monsters that kept flooding over the borderlands of the Dannemora Steppes and protecting the empire from demon invasions on the northern front.

No creature, human or monster, had ever withstood an attack from Duke Thayer and his Roguemount cavalry knights or even survived to speak about it. He had a flawless record with large-scale combat, and the Duke was always victorious in his conquests.

Faye was jolted back to reality by the sound of her younger step-sister, Alice, giggling behind her. She swung about and watched Alice cover her mouth with her fan, like the other Noble women did when they exchanged secrets and whispers during tea parties and, at times, when they were invited to the royal palace of the empire.

Faye felt her stomach drop as the younger Montgomery girl's voice rose in vicious taunts.

"Look at you standing there waiting so sullen. I wonder if that savage of a Duke has backed out and forsaken you? You know you are not the greatest catch. I overheard father say you are almost too old to be married. I am shocked he has not sent you off to the spinsters' home yet. There are much prettier and far more sophisticated women in this empire than you. The man could have any one of them he desired. Why he chose you is a complete myst…"

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Before Alice could finish her sentence, her twin brother, Aaron, cut her off.

"He did not choose her, sister Alice. This union was forced upon the Duke. I feel quite sorry for the poor man. Father explained it was decreed by the holy imperial order, and the emperor himself, that Duke Thayer is to take a bride. The match is to mend the rift between our two noble houses. They are to have a child, to bind our families together. And stop the centuries old feud between us."

Aaron's last words were a cutting, cynical comment.

"You are lucky that Faye's mother died or it would be you, dear sister Alice, who is getting married to that savage—as you so kindly like to refer to him. Celebrate the fact and thank your father that you are not to become the plaything of some bloodthirsty despot whose sole purpose is to bring about slaughter and death for his mere pleasure."

Aaron's face twisted in disgust as his icy baltic blue eyes glared down at Faye.

"The most that the man could hope for now is he has a carriage accident and meets his maker to get out of this disgusting mess."

Faye gritted her teeth and snapped back a response to his last remark.

"That's enough unsavory talk from you, Aaron Montgomery. You have admitted knowing it was not I that chose this path. Rather, your father and the King of Minbury that made this choice. I am only the vessel acting on their accord."

In response to Faye's back talk, Aaron slapped her across the cheek with his hand. It was such a powerful strike that it knocked her to the ground. The spot on her pale flesh where his hand met it turned bright red. Holding her face, she sat on the floor, stunned but determined not to show how painful it was.

As Faye stood from the wooden floor, she inwardly thought the fact that she had been sold into marriage almost made her grateful. At least she would never have to suffer under her brother's hand again.

The Wintershold butler excitedly raced into the parlor, interrupting Aaron and startling everyone who was anxiously awaiting the enigmatic guest's arrival. He announced in a shaking voice,

"I see horse's and knight's coming down the carriage path."

Faye had just regained her footing when she was jostled against the icy window pane and could hear the excited murmurs of the others as they rushed to the window. She focused on the sound of the horse's hooves, getting heavier and louder as they approached the Wintershold estate. Inside her soul, she felt a chill, as if the sound of her impending doom was drawing nearer.

Like a prophetic warning, a streak of lightning crackled across the sky, followed by a deep, reverberating thunderclap that caused the dull air in the parlor to shake. It made the occupants of the room jump. The two siblings ceased their gossiping abruptly, their mouths effectively silenced by the storm's violent noise.

Faye gazed out of the rain-drenched glass panes as the storm poured down harder. She could see the silhouette of the coach approaching. She pressed her hot, swollen, aching face against the frigid glass to lessen the pain where Aaron had struck her.

She noticed, out of the corner of her eye, horses and knights following the carriage in a massive entourage. Faye turned her head to get a better look and watched the vehicle halt under the porta cochere. It blocked her view of the passenger descending from the horse-drawn coach.

She could only see his tall black leather riding boots as they struck the ground, splashing the dirty rainwater on the spats. Faye could hear the jingling of his roulettes as he strode across the muddy path to the front entrance.

When he passed by, she noticed his oiled cloak's bottom edge. The interior was lined with black wolf fur. Seeing this, Faye understood he was indeed a man of wealth to be dressed in such a fine cloak. Contrary to what her father and siblings had said, he was not some impoverished warlord.

A/N: Hi, readers, and welcome to the newest book in the ADG Series. This story is part of the Angels, Demons, and Ghosts family. It can be read alone, or you can read the first in the series of books, "An Angel's Soul For A Devil's Heart." You can find them both in my profile and add them to your library for your reading pleasure.