Lyra Bien has spent her life hiding her magical abilities to avoid the notice of a power-hungry king, but when the feared royal guard Roark Ashwood uncovers her secret, she’s forced into service as the next melder—a role both honored and fatal. Determined to escape the crown’s deadly grip and save her friends, Lyra seeks answers from the very man who captured her. As she and Roark grow closer, the lines between enemy and ally blur, and their bond deepens into something more. But when a dark truth comes to light, they must decide whether to defy everything they’ve known or embrace a destiny that could destroy them both.