They say every choice has a consequence, but what if you didn't make the choice in the first place? One moment, I'm living a relatively ordinary life-if you call dodging magical rivalries and suspicious prophecies ordinary-and the next, an ancient artifact slaps me with a mark that might as well be a neon sign saying, "Congratulations, you're cursed!" Now, I'm tethered to Kael, a man whose arrogance is only matched by his skill with a blade. He's infuriating, impossible to read, and annoyingly capable of saving my life. Together, we've been thrust into a forest that's alive with secrets, shadow hounds, and a melody that knows my name. The Orb we're after could save the world-or end it-and the warning etched into its surface makes one thing crystal clear: betrayal is inevitable. The problem? I'm not sure whether I'm supposed to trust Kael or myself. With the forest closing in and danger lurking at every turn, one thing is certain-I'm running out of time to figure out whether this bond between us is our salvation...or our undoing.