What The Ashes Didn't Take

In a kingdom ruled by illusion, she'll become the perfect lie.
Five years ago, Lydia Oleander lost everything in a fire, the boy who gave her a key around her neck, the father who never truly came back, and the mother who vanished with the smoke. Now, the kingdom mourns what was lost by hosting annual balls and shallow toasts, but Lydia knows grief doesn't wear black and dance beneath chandeliers. Grief burns. And she's still burning.
When the king recruits her to spy on the estranged, dangerous villain Azrael, Lydia agrees, determined to see the downfall of the man who made her lose everything she once held close. Gaining his trust will be easy, after all, Lydia has been playing this game for years, she's always been good at pretending. Innocent. Obedient. Sweet.
But the longer she stays, the more dangerous the game becomes. Secrets spiral. Dreams bleed into waking. And Azrael might not be the only monster out there...