The Beast King’s Forbidden Bride

The Human Kingdom and the Beast Empire maintained a ten-year ceasefire. Under the peace treaty, humans were required to annually present a "Peace Bride" for marriage into the Beast Empire's royal court. Legend has it that none of these brides survived beyond their wedding night. Elara Vale was the most neglected illegitimate daughter among a noble human family, enduring constant humiliation from her stepmother and older sister Celeste Vale since childhood. Although Celeste had been chosen to be offered to the Beastfolk, her fear of death led her to conspire with her stepmother against Elara—she knocked her unconscious and sacrificed her on the Beastfolk altar. On the wedding night, Elara was forced to kneel before the orcs, awaiting execution by the legendary brutal and bloodthirsty Black Lion King Kael Ashbourne. Everyone assumed Kael would tear her apart, but the moment he approached Elara and detected the scent of her blood, his black lion nature suddenly erupted uncontrollably. Golden beast eyes lit up and black-gold markings appeared on his face; yet instead of killing her, he instinctively stood between her and him.