The Knights of St. Mark Arriving

IN A CITY RULED BY SECRETS, LOVE MAY BE THE MOST DANGEROUS BETRAYAL OF ALL. Late seventeenth-century Zadar stands at the crossroads of empires. Beneath the banner of Venice's winged lion, merchants, soldiers, spies, smugglers, and noblemen compete for power in a city where fortunes are won through intrigue and loyalties can be purchased with a whispered promise. Beyond the mountains, the Ottoman frontier solders with unrest.
Within the city's gleaming palaces, political conspiracies unfold behind masks of elegance and civility. Into this volatile world arrives Zavisa Jankovic, younger brother of the legendary frontier warrior Stojan Jankovic. Sent to represent the interests of his people before the Venetian authorities, Zavisa finds himself navigating a maze of ambition, deception, and hidden enemies. A man of intelligence, courage, and uncommon charm, he soon attracts both admiration and suspicion among Zadar's powerful elite.
Then he meets Caterina Grimani, the beautiful and brilliant daughter of the Venetian governor. What begins as a fleeting exchange of glances soon grows into a forbidden love that defies the rigid boundaries of class, politics, and empire. Amid moonlit walks along ancient ramparts, secret meetings in monastery gardens, and coded letters hidden aboard merchant vessels, Zavisa and Caterina risk everything for a future that may never be theirs.
But in a city where every alliance conceals a hidden agenda and every smile may mask a betrayal, powerful men are plotting in the shadows. As political tensions rise and old rivalries ignite, Zavisa becomes entangled in a deadly conspiracy that threatens not only his life but the fragile peace of Dalmatia itself. To survive, he must uncover the truth before enemies strike from within. To save the woman he loves, he may be forced to choose between duty and desire, loyalty and passion, honor and survival.
Rich in historical detail, suspense, and unforgettable romance, 'THE KNIGHTS OF ST. MARK ARRIVING' is a sweeping tale of courage, intrigue, and forbidden love set against the dramatic backdrop of Venetian Dalmatia-a world where the clash of empires shapes destinies and a single secret can change the course of history.