His Forbidden Mate

When a girl with sealed memories and forbidden power enters the Solaria Trials, she becomes the kingdom's greatest threat, and its only hope. As Raina's dormant lineage awakens, exposing her as the lost daughter of a sleeping goddess, political enemies move to destroy her before she can rise. With a prince who refuses to abandon her, a sister she never knew she had, and a mother trapped between life and death, Raina must survive sabotage, prophecy, and the truth of who she really is... before the kingdom decides her fate for her.
___________

#1 in supernaturalmystery
#17 in protector
#9 in forbiddenrituals
#40 in tragic
#14 in tragicpast
____________
Excerpt:

"Whatever is waking in you," he whispered, "it won't change what you are to me."

My breath trembled. "And what am I?"

He stepped closer, slow and deliberate, like he was crossing a line he'd sworn he wouldn't touch. His hand hovered near my cheek, not quite touching, but close enough that I felt the heat of him.

"You really don't know," he murmured, almost to himself.

The bond hummed between us, low and insistent, like it was answering for him. He let out a breath, half a laugh, half a confession, the sound rough at the edges.

"You think I haven't tried to ignore this?" he said. "You think I haven't fought it?"

The warmth inside me surged, responding to him before I could.

He leaned in until his forehead pressed to mine, his breath brushing my lips. "I can't walk away from you," he said softly. "I've tried. Gods, I've tried."

My pulse stuttered. "Reagan..."

His voice dropped to something raw, something he'd never meant to say out loud. "You're the one thing I was never meant to want. The one thing I'd defy a kingdom for."

The bond flared hot and bright between us, like it recognized the truth before either of us did.

His fingers brushed my jaw, barely there, but enough to make my breath catch.

"You're mine," he whispered. "And no prophecy, no Temple, no fate is going to change that."