Beneath the Gilded Veil

She is fire, stoked by grief, forged in rage, burning for revenge.

He is the sea, unpredictable, merciless, waiting to consume her whole.

Helena Carys was meant to marry Prince Johan, noble, honorable, the realm's golden heir.

But disgrace has stained her bloodline, for she is the first in generations unable to unlock her magic.

Without a dowry to bargain, a father to intervene and her name ruined, she is given to the King's bastard instead.

Kieran Inero, the half-blood Fae who spends his days in fighting pits, evenings in gambling dens, and nights in brothels.

Too human to wield power.
Too Otherborn to be ignored.

Her ancestors, if any lived, would drown themselves before seeing the last of their house bound to a half-blood.

But at least she isn't marrying a fool...
For it takes a clever man to murder the High Warlock and walk away with his daughter as the prize.

As Helena is dragged into a court of illusions, where lies wear crowns and magic hides daggers, she realizes her fate has always been written by others.

Until now.

Because fire does not kneel.

And the sea cannot drown a woman who has already decided to burn.