Two hearts bound by duty, torn by conflict.

Elysia Kallendore never wanted a marriage forged by politics, let alone to a Valecrest knight sworn to uphold the very prejudices her family has fought for generations. Gifted with powerful magic that can heal—or destroy—she’s determined to prove her worth beyond the shadows of whispered witchcraft.

Lorand Valecrest has spent his life shielding his barony from chaos, but his forced betrothal to Elysia is a new kind of battle. Balancing loyalty to his family and an uneasy alliance with a mage he doesn’t fully trust pushes him to the edge.

When a sinister force stirs unrest across the land, threatening both their houses, Elysia and Lorand must navigate treachery, sabotage, and the growing tension between them. Bandit raids, cursed farmland, and the weight of centuries-old grudges demand they act as one.

Every step forward risks uncovering vulnerabilities neither can afford to reveal.

With the barony’s future hanging by a thread, Elysia and Lorand face a critical choice: cling to their guarded mistrust or embrace the fragile bond that could reshape their destiny.

Will they rise as the protectors their people need—or fall victim to the enmity that’s always defined them?

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