Veil of Iron and Vengeance
By @john1208
It all starts with a desperate chase through the rain-slicked alleys of Zhalor. I was supposed to be a cold-blooded mastermind, orchestrating the ruin of the Magistrate who orphaned me and my little brother, Dantel. But my ruthless revenge plot halts when a terrifying prophetic nightmare reveals my arrogant academic rival, Zavien, standing over my burning body.
To survive, I take the vows of the Silent Sisters, donning a hideous, metal-plated monstrosity of a robe to swear off men and repel him forever. It’s the perfect cover to scheme in peace - until my inherent, foolish need to help people ruins everything. While sprinting away from Zavien to maintain my cover, my bulky, ugly cowl accidentally deflects an assassin's poisoned dart meant for his throat.
Instead of being disgusted by my devout celibacy, my rival becomes fiercely, obsessively protective. He shadows my every move, dismantling my carefully laid plans with his infuriatingly magnetic presence. But as the Magistrate's terrifying - yet surprisingly sympathetic - motives come to light, the true danger approaches. When the real threat corners me, will Zavien be the executioner from my nightmares, or the only shield standing between my brother and certain death?
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