A Queen of Hearts

"Landon," She called rather harshly, hoping he'd get up on his own. No answer.
She poked him forcefully with the polished toe of her boot. "Hey, get up."
He stirred slowly, and she called him again. Suddenly he was sitting upright, a short dagger in his hand.
"You scared me." He muttered, brushing his long hair away from his face.
"Wouldn't have happened if you didn't fall asleep."
"I wasn't asleep. I was just... resting." He got up and dusted himself off and the dagger disappeared. His dark eyes swept over her quickly.

Princess Aretha was born with a cursed gift-- the power the heal the sick and dying with the touch of her bare hands. But it comes with a drastic price. Each time she heals someone, her lifespan decreases by days. How many, she'll never know.

One night when Aretha is out riding secretly with her friend Landon, she sees something she should never have. Only days later, the news of a nearby plague reaches the country of Sarnia. The epidemic was something that was far away, only touching the neighbouring countries, but suddenly it's so close, infecting millions.

Knowing the reality of the outside world and injustice that Sarnia does to its inhabitants, Princess Aretha is determined to put a stop to it all. But the plague and destruction of the monarchy are things she has no control over-- or does she? Aretha must find a way to stop the horrifying injustice she sees, protect those she loves, and ultimately, avoid her own death.