The Brighter The Light

The Brighter the Light

The brighter the light, the darker the shadow.

Lady Alessia Claire Valerian was born into the Light.

At least, that's what everyone is supposed to believe.

As heir to one of the Empire's most powerful noble houses, Alessia has spent twenty-one years perfecting the art of pretending. Smile when expected. Obey when necessary. Keep her gloves on.

And never, ever, let anyone see what moves inside her shadow.

But when Alessia leaves her mother's carefully controlled world for Halveth Academy-a place where Light and Dark study beneath the same roof-the secrets surrounding her birth begin unraveling.

An ancient brooch responds to her touch.

Shadows whisper words she shouldn't understand.

Forbidden histories tell of a bloodline the Empire swears no longer exists.

And something old seems to recognize her.

The deeper Alessia searches for answers, the harder it becomes to distinguish the monsters of history from the people who wrote it.

Her only constant is Lawson-her infuriatingly loyal, common-born protector, childhood best friend, and the one person who knows almost every version of her.

Almost.

Because Lawson has secrets of his own.

And while Alessia is busy uncovering the truth about her blood, he is quietly digging into a mystery someone has already killed to keep buried.

Some secrets demand blood.

Some truths should never be forgotten.

And the darkness?

The darkness remembers.