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.
________________________________________
Excerpt:
Aeger’s Grand Palace - Throne Room
"You came here like this?"
Ruyi’s golden eyes dragged over Marina’s dust-covered uniform, taking in every out-of-place strand of hair, every scuff mark from the day’s work. He smirked, tilting his head as if examining a fascinating but unimpressive specimen. "No sense of presentation. But I suppose I shouldn’t expect refinement from a naval girl."
Marina met his gaze, unflinching. "I was under the impression that Aeger valued results over appearances, Your Majesty. Or is that only true when it benefits you?"
A low chuffle came from Ruyel’s side. The younger king had been silent until now, his cold blue eyes assessing her with unreadable interest. "A governor who bites," he murmured.
Ruyi chuckled, leaning forward from his throne. "Oh, she does more than bite, brother."
Marina exhaled slowly, fingers twitching at her side. I am here to negotiate, not to entertain them.
"I need access to the city’s records," she stated plainly. "A plague is spreading. Without proper sanitation, it will reach the noble districts next."
Ruyi’s smirk didn’t falter. "So?"
"So," she said, stepping forward, daring to challenge the golden lion in his den, "if you enjoy your silk robes and wine-soaked halls, you might want to stop your people from dying in their own filth."
The room fell silent.
Ruyel’s fingers tapped once against his armrest. "She’s serious."
Ruyi sighed, resting his chin on his palm, his smirk still lingering. "Serious, stubborn, and utterly unaware of what she’s just walked into."
Then, without warning, he reached out. A gloved hand brushed against the fabric of her uniform, slow, deliberate. Marina stiffened, resisting the urge to step back. His fingers ghosted down her sleeve, as if testing the very air around her.
"You think you’re in control here, don’t you?" His voice was velvet and steel.
Marina tilted her head. "I know I am."
Ruyi stilled. Then, laughter—rich, amused, dangerously indulgent—spilled from his lips.
"Oh, this will be fun."
Beside him, Ruyel’s expression did not change. But his gaze sharpened.
And Marina, despite everything, knew she had just made the most dangerous mistake of her life.
She had their attention now.
And they would never let her go.
