A new age doesn’t come without a sacrifice. Nadiya came to Lateo’s gates, ready to save his life, with his engagement necklace in hand, but she has been locked away ever since. Each day brings Lateo closer to death and all of them closer to being swallowed by the Abyss... if King Sulien’s army doesn’t kill them all first. But when news of Sulien’s marriage reaches the city, Nadiya finally has her chance to win Lateo’s trust and save their people by helping him stop the Abyss. She’s determined to repay her debt and save him, no matter what it costs her. It’s not like he could ever love her again after everything she’s done, but maybe if he marries her anyway, she can give him everything he’s ever wanted… if they live long enough to see it. Nadiya is Lateo’s greatest weakness, and even though he should keep her far away from him for both their sakes, he’s not strong enough to follow through. She is the only mage capable of finding a way to stop the Abyss from growing. He finally has everything he’s ever wanted, but with Sulien marching toward the peninsula, Lateo knows he can’t keep any of it. If the vitae burning through him doesn’t finish him first, it will be Sulien or the Abyss. All he can do now is ensure he cleans up as much of the mess he’s made of his war and save as many people as possible before he dies. But with Nadiya at his side, insisting she will stop at nothing to save him, how can he resist her? Just how much agony is he setting himself up for when he inevitably loses it all? His kingdom, the love of his life, and his very life. What other way could it possibly end? For lovers of epic magic, complex characters, and intense, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance with no spice, Shield Heart is book 5 in the Rune Heart series, a YA fantasy perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone, Elise Kova, and Sarah K. L. Wilson!