Description
For a hundred years, the Southern Kingdom has been at war. Its salvation comes not through the sword, but through a child. Princess Novalyn, the long-awaited heir, prophesied to end the bloodshed. Raised under the watchful eye of her mother and the council, Novalyn's life has been shaped by duty, diplomacy, and the constant reminder that her future is not her own. When her betrothal is sealed to Prince Ruan of the North, the fragile peace between their fractured kingdoms rests upon their union. Ruan arrives cold and unreadable, a prince forged in ice and discipline. To the court, he is a stranger; to Novalyn, he is both ally and a mystery. Yet beneath the formality lies a dangerous truth. Their marriage is as much about survival as it is about politics. As whispers of betrayal grow louder and old rivalries resurface, Novalyn begins to realize she is not merely a bride to be given away, she is a queen in the making. To step into her power, she must first decide...will she submit to the role others have written for her, or will she risk everything for the possibility of love, loyalty, and her own voice? Treachery brews in the shadows. A kingdom balances on the edge of ruin, and in the midst of it all, two hearts collide in a bond that could either heal centuries of division or shatter them forever. In this sweeping tale of duty and desire, betrayal and hope, love becomes the most dangerous weapon of all.
Chapter One
