Wed by Proxy (Brides of Karadok, #1)

by Alice Coldbreath

He had been given the bleak choice of signing his fealty over to the southern king, along with half of his wealth, or face execution. The added bonus of being leg-shackled to a woman he’d never even met had been the crowning insult. He’d been sat in a filthy cell when the papers had been placed before him with pen and ink. He had not even realized then, how complete King Wymer’s victory over his family had been. For with a wife, he had married by proxy—a wife never actually given into his possession—his line had also effectively been severed. For how could he ever beget a legitimate heir to continue it or to inherit? On his death, his lands and his title would revert to the Crown. So really, he had signed away everything on that accursed day. Was it any wonder he was so bloody bitter?