Crown of Ash and Bonds: The Flame Between

This is Book 2 of The Soulfire Chronicles. The Rise of the Flamebearer told the story of how I survived. This is the story of what it cost me. Alaric and Evelyne, my beloved husband and dear cousin, two people I trusted and loved, betrayed me with each other and had me burned alive. My mother sacrificed her life to bring me back before my execution date. I remembered every betrayal before it happened, and I used all of it. The affair. The stolen assets. The lies he told to keep me caged. I filed for divorce, gained the Empress's approval, and walked out of that marriage with fire in my blood and three awakening trials behind me. Alaric now sits under house arrest and under investigation. Duke Caelan Vorenthal was my husband's greatest rival. He was also my ally, my protector, and the man I never planned on wanting. I built something real with him while I was tearing my husband apart. Then news arrived of his demise. His unit destroyed. No survivors found. I don't get to fall apart. The wards protecting seventeen estates are failing, and my blood is the only thing that can hold them. Eight months to stabilize everything and reach the final trial. If I fail, the collapse begins and it won't stop. Something bigger has been moving behind all of this. I can feel it. I just can't name it yet. Here comes Crown Prince Thalion. He thinks I'm dangerous, said so to my face, and now he's assigned as my escort because he doesn't trust anyone else to do it. Eight months with this man's eyes on my every move. He wasn't supposed to be part of this. He's becoming something I didn't plan for, and the way he looks at me when he thinks I can't see it is becoming harder to ignore. I was bred to obey. I burned. I came back. And I'm not finished. Regression | Enemies-to-Lovers | Forced Proximity | Slow Burn | Political Intrigue | R18