Sovereign of the Beasts
Marina Velkas never asked to rule.
Once an Imperial Knight, now an appointed Governor, she is sent to the lawless kingdom of Aeger—a land of excess, ruled by the infamous twin kings, Ruyi and Ruyel Vael’Tyrr. The two brothers are brilliant warriors but self-indulgent rulers, turning Aeger into a city of pleasure, vice, and unchecked power.
From the moment Marina arrives, she is undermined, and dismissed as nothing more than a temporary nuisance. But unlike her predecessors, she does not yield.
Armed with ruthless determination, she takes the first step toward reform—only to realize that she has not just challenged a city’s corruption… she has declared war on its kings.
Ruyi, the golden lion shifter, is an enigma of cruelty and charm, his every action laced with dangerous amusement. He rules through indulgence, his body a weapon—both in battle and in desire. He touches only to destroy, yet Marina defies his grasp.
Ruyel, the white tiger shifter, is silent and unshakable, an executioner with no patience for distractions. Unlike his brother, he does not play games—but when Marina refuses to bow, something buried deep within him stirs.
The more Marina fights, the more they take notice. The more she resists, the more they are drawn to her. But in Aeger, power is never freely given. And when desire and dominance collide, the battle for control becomes something far more dangerous than she ever imagined.
She was sent to govern. She might just become a queen.
But first, she must survive.
[The first volume is seductive feline courtship and rather wholesome, but the first chapter is a throw forward to what would happen later.]
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Excerpt:
The Court’s Spectacle
Ruyi: "Your proposal is flawed, Governor Velkas. Aeger does not need another infrastructure project that drains our coffers."
Marina: "Aeger does not need another war either, Your Majesty, yet here we are, funding one."
Ruyel: "You overestimate your influence, Governor. You are here to govern, not to dictate."
Marina: "And yet, I seem to be the only one dictating sense in this room."
Ruyi: "Sense? Or delusion? It is quite endearing how you believe the court would ever bow to your whims."
Marina: "Not my whims, Your Majesty. Just common sense. But I understand—that is a rarity in this court."
Ruyel: "Careful, Governor. A woman like you should know when to hold her tongue."
Marina: "And a man like you should know when he’s lost an argument."
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Later that evening at the arena, Roc's Nest
Ruyel: "You’re distracted."
Marina: "I’m annoyed."
Ruyel: "And why is that, Marina?"
Marina: "Because you refuse to train someone else."
Ruyel: "There is no one else."
Marina: "Then I pity you."
Ruyel: "No, you don’t. You just hate how I make you feel."
Marina: "Cold and irritated?"
Ruyel: "Weak."
Marina: "Let go of me."
Ruyel: "If I do, you’ll fall."
Marina: "Then I’ll get back up."
Ruyel: "Not when I keep putting you back where I want you."
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Later that night in her room,
Marina: "You humiliated me in court today."
Ruyi: "And you humiliated me by being too cute while arguing."
Marina: "That is not a real answer."
Ruyi: "And yet, it is the only one that matters."
Marina: "Ruyi, let go."
Ruyi: "Mmm. No."
Marina: "I should throw you out."
Ruyi: "And yet, here I am. In your bed. Winning."
Marina: "This is not winning."
Ruyi: "You’ll say that now, but in two minutes, you’ll be purring my name."
Marina: "I hate you."
Ruyi: "You hate how much you love me."
Marina: "...You still rejected my project."
Ruyi: "Because you didn’t ask nicely."
Marina: "I will never ask nicely."
Ruyi: "Then I will just have to keep denying you until you do."
Marina: "You are insufferable."
Ruyi: "And yet, Aeger now has more welfare programs than the empire itself… because of how cute you are when you argue."
Marina: "You cannot be serious."
Ruyi: "Deadly serious. A kiss and tomorrow, your project will pass. After all, how could I ever deny my precious Governor anything?"