Bride of Midnight: an Imperial Gothic Romance of Power, Blood, and Dangerous Desire

A ruined heiress. A cursed duke. A marriage sealed in blood.When Arden Lockhart’s family falls into crushing debt, the emperor offers a single, ruthless bargain: wed Dorian Vale, the empire’s most notorious nobleman, and every coin will be forgiven. But whispers haunt the marble halls—three wives buried in a single decade, each dead within a year of saying I do.Dorian is more than a charming predator. Bound by a golden thorn pulsing with ancient magic, he is both prisoner and weapon of the imperial throne. The thorn feeds on love, devouring the life of any woman who dares to love him back.Arden is no trembling bride. With Ashworth blood in her veins and a mind trained for survival, she enters the marriage not as prey but as strategist. As forbidden attraction ignites into a dangerous alliance, she must decide whether to break the curse…or wield it as her greatest weapon.Power. Passion. Blood. In a world where love kills and politics corrupt, only one truth remains—someone will bleed for the crown.Perfect for fans of Kerrigan Byrne, Holly Black, and Sarah J. Maas, Bride of Midnight is a gothic fantasy romance of courtly intrigue, supernatural danger, and a heroine who refuses to be anyone’s victim.