The royalty of Tinti use brutality and fear to maintain control over their kingdom.
In Aysu, they use something else...
As a disillusioned castle guard in Tinti, Killian aims to escape the sadistic Lord Balthazar and take his cousin with him. But then Killian is sent on a mission, shattering his plan and jeopardising his cousin's life - should Killian fail, his cousin will die.

Balthazar has coerced Princess Shanree of Aysu into a marriage agreement. Killian must guard the intended bride during her betrothal period and ensure the union takes place. Simple enough, but Shanree has no intention of marrying a tyrant, and she isn't the only one desperate to find a way out.

A Darkness lurks in Aysu that will not let her go.

As Killian's feelings for Shanree grow, what begins as duty twists into something dangerous, forbidden... To save his cousin, he must betray the woman he's come to love. To save Shanree, he must condemn the only family he has.

And all the while the Darkness is watching, growing in strength, and using every weapon it has to make Killian fail.

Under Balthazar's rule, Killian sacrificed everything just to survive. Now the Darkness wants what's left.

A thrilling romantic fantasy perfect for fans of epic stakes, impossible choices, and heart-wrenching tension, this stunning debut in the genre explores the cost of loyalty and the weight of love in a world where survival demands blood.

'So good I read it twice!' ??????????
'Game of Thrones meets Romeo and Juliette.' ??????????
'I was immediately hooked. It's a true page turner.' ??????????

Tropes:
Forced proximity
Kingdoms & Castles
psychic love
forbidden romance
bodyguard romance
strong female characters

Set in a medieval world, this is a passionate story of mind control, families destined to destroy each other, and the two descendants who fall in love.

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• Literature & FictionAction & AdventureMystery, Thriller & SuspenseSuspense
• Literature & FictionAction & AdventureFantasy

• Publication Date: March 5, 2026
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 384 Pages
• File Size: 21 KB