Love leads to ruin
As the cunning mage Nadia plots to reshape a continent plagued by war, the fate of a noblewoman-marriage and a life of stultifying insignificance-is only one of many hurdles to overcome. Forced to let her brother take credit for all her brilliant plans, she's resigned to scheme from the shadows while her family decides her future. Her life seems set in stone, until she meets a charming, irritating rogue and the bane of her existence-Darius.
Prince Darius Firetongue loves nothing more than nettling the sharp-tongued, quick-witted Nadia, and being the disappointing youngest son of a tyrant leaves him plenty of time to woo her away from a fiancé she doesn't want. But when the king decides to bring him to heel by threatening Nadia's life, he knows he must act.
Compelled to flee, with only each other to rely on, passions ignite. Yet as dangerous secrets are revealed, they must decide: side with family, or choose a reckless, forbidden love and the dark promise of bloodshed to come.