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. \———————————————————————————————————- _Perfect for fans of high-stakes fantasy with morally grey fmc, enemies-to-lovers romance and rich, Slavic-inspired world-building. This adult high 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._ Check content warnings in the “Look Inside” section.

One Shadow to protect the Crown. One betrayal to tear the world apart. Roksana’s burden was watching her king ride to war, leaving her with an impossible guard the capital at any cost. As the King’s Shadow, she enforces his rule with forbidden magic and poisons that shift alliances overnight. Hidden behind the porcelain mask of the Deadly Nightshade, Roksana is the throne’s most lethal secret—and she is committed to protecting the only man who ever touched her heart. But a silent threat capable of shattering the realm is festering in the city’s depths. With King Reynard cut off by the tides of war and the court plotting a coup, Roksana must rely on the only family she has a fae courtesan who trades in whispers, a dwarf inventor whose genius uncovers the plot, and an assassin who always trusts her plans. To save the kingdom and her king, Roksana must become the monster the world already believes her to be. She would rather lose her soul than the man she loves—and the family—she’s fought to protect. \——————————————————————————————— _Blending grit, passion and power play, this adult high fantasy romance delivers a morally grey competent heroine in her 30' with deadly secrets, a cursed king whose love language is obsession, and a slow burn enemies-to-lovers bond that burns into spice against the backdrop of a Slavic-inspired kingdom steeped in betrayal and dangerous magic. A dual POV. Perfect for fans of Six of Crows and The Witcher_ Check content warnings in the “Look Inside” section.