When the magic that creates life is a death sentence, her only chance to live is taming it... and the man it tried to claim.

As a poisoner, Roksana knows how to keep a secret-until the power she wields and the secrets she hides begin unravelling, forcing her to flee to the dwarven kingdom.

But the assassin's mark on her skin isn't easy to erase.

When she's discovered by her former master, the price for his silence is brutally simple: kill the notorious War King.

Except... she already did.

Her target, however, refuses to die. Surviving by sheer tenacity-and the darkness her poison awakened-he sets out to hunt down the woman who dared to destroy him.

When his hands finally close around his assassin's throat, the War King does the unthinkable-he lets her live... and makes her pay.

Thrusted into a world where loyalty is carved in blood and love is the deadliest illusion, two unwilling allies must join forces for a chance to survive, all while trying to ignore the treacherous fire threatening to undo them with every forbidden touch.

As more secrets come to light, Roksana faces an impossible choice.

Trust the man she tried to kill... or hide her power and let his kingdom burn.

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Perfect for fans of high-stakes fantasy with morally grey fmc, enemies-to-lovers romance and rich, Slavic-inspired world-building. This adult epic fantasy delivers slow-burn tension, dark intrigue, and a hero torn between power and love.

For readers who crave the grit of The Witcher and the allure of Bardugo's Six of Crows, reimagined for a mature audience.