When Princess Elena finds a wounded blacksmith in her garden at midnight, she uncovers a betrayal that could erase her bloodline.
Marcus is no ordinary apprentice. He is the lost heir of Valdris-alive, defiant, and carrying proof that her betrothed plans to claim her throne through marriage and poison.
As palace walls burn and treaties fracture, Elena must choose between a safe alliance built on control... or a dangerous partnership built on choice.
Marcus fights not to conquer her crown, but to stand beside her. Yet love between sovereigns is never simple-especially when war waits beyond the river.
In a court of shifting loyalties and broken seals, two rulers must decide whether their hearts are strong enough to rewrite history.
For readers 18+