One heart can burn the way to freedom... Everyone knows you don't mess with the empire. Our tyrannical overlords rule our conquered kingdom with an iron fist. Even after they killed my parents and left me orphaned and ostracized, I've swallowed my resentment. I survive by keeping my head down, scavenging the scraps my neighbors discard. But when I see the empire's soldiers destroying my mother's last sculpture in the town square, years of bottled rage boil over. I never expect my sudden act of defiancé to spark a full-out rebellion. Now I'm at odds with the empire's entire army with nothing but my wits and sheer stubbornness on my side. Well, that and three incredible men I'm guarding my heart from, because they can't possibly want a nobody like me... can they? No one thinks I stand a chance, but I'm done with cowering. I'll lead my country to freedom–or die trying. *Heart of Defiancé is a short standalone reverse harem romantasy novel set in the fantasy world of the Abandoned Realms, about a century before the events in the Rites of Possession and Royal Spares series. No prior knowledge of the world is required!*