Brutal Prince

In Lark’s novel, trust is earned through profound acts of vulnerability, demonstrating that genuine connection is forged only when characters risk exposing their weaknesses. Aida and Callum's journey suggests that in a world defined by betrayal, the willingness to be vulnerable provides the very foundation upon which lasting trust is built.

Initially, Aida and Callum weaponize vulnerability, exploiting each other’s weaknesses in a relentless battle for dominance. For example, Aida discovers Callum’s severe strawberry allergy and uses this knowledge to poison him at their wedding, turning a physical vulnerability into an opportunity for attack. Callum, in return, exerts control by forcing Aida into situations where she is physically and emotionally exposed, such as when he steals her clothes to make her wear a dress she despises or nearly drowns her in his family’s pool. These early interactions establish a dynamic where any perceived weakness is immediately exploited, making genuine trust seem impossible. Their initial relationship is a transactional and hostile arrangement, governed by the expectation of betrayal.

Callum and Aida’s love for each other develops in parallel to their growing trust, creating a narrative link between the two. As Callum begins to develop feelings for Aida, he feels unsure of how to proceed—how to shift their relationship from one of enmity to one of partnership. In a conversation with his father, Callum reflects that “[Aida’s] a tough nut” and wonders, “What will it take to truly crack her open, to find that vulnerable core inside?” (227). Fergus’s advice helps Callum identify “[t]rust as the essence of love. […] Any gangster knows your friends can put a bullet in your back just as easily as your enemies […]. Trust is rarer than love. It’s putting your fate, your happiness, your life in someone’s hands. Hoping they keep it safe” (227). Within the violent and cutthroat context of their criminal world, trust represents the ultimate vulnerability for Callum and Aida—a game-changer for their relationship.

The turning point in their romantic arc occurs when Aida and Callum begin to protect each other’s vulnerabilities rather than exploit them. This shift is solidified during life-or-death crises where they must choose to rely on one another for survival. When Callum is captured and tortured by Zajac, Aida risks her life to rescue him, demonstrating a loyalty that transcends their hostile arrangement. In a moment of vulnerable sincerity, she tells him, “I would never abandon you” (213). Callum reciprocates this devotion when he saves her from Oliver, battling his way through a burning house to ensure her safety. Aida notes that “Cal found [her] just like he’d promised. It wasn’t [her] father or [her] brothers. It was [her] husband. This man [she] didn’t even want. Now [she] can’t imagine being without him” (263). Through these shared moments of extreme emotional and physical vulnerability, they prove their allegiance and allow genuine romantic attachment to grow between them. Their eventual confessions of love are only possible after they have repeatedly laid their lives on the line for each other, transforming vulnerability from a weapon of war into the cornerstone of their unbreakable bond.

Aida and Callum’s sexual relationship explores the interplay between power, desire, and vulnerability, positioning trust as the bridge connecting the three. Across the novel, their sex evolves from a mutual attempt to achieve power, self-satisfaction, and control to an expression of love, desire, and trust. During their first sexual encounter, Callum notes that “[Aida] likes sex as much as I do. That’s perfect […] one more way I can control her” (101). For her part, Aida confirms that she “like[s] sex. A lot. So, unless [she’s] going to start cheating on [her] brand-new husband […] there’s only one place to get [her] fix” (107). In the novel’s conclusion, the couple’s sex reflects the ways their hard-won trust enhances their mutual pleasure in each other. During oral sex, Aida notes that there’s nothing more intimate and trusting than having the most vulnerable part of yourself in the other person’s mouth […] I’m pleasuring him and he’s pleasuring me […] It’s intimate and connected. And most of all, it feels like we’re equals. That we’re both learning to give, both learning to receive” (263). As Aida and Callum build trust, their pleasure in their sexual encounters takes on new dimensions, cementing their bond.