Only the death of the mad queen saved Velmina from execution.
But the moment she was free, she unwittingly attracted the attention of the governor.
An unwanted man brings an unwanted gift…
So an enslaved person appears in Velmina’s house—his presence makes her heart beat faster and her breathing go off track.
His secret is a magical brand on his chest. His essence is alchemy. His hands are stained with the blood of those killed in glory of the crown.
But their fates are linked by an ancient prophecy. She will have to learn to trust the monster, and he will have to forget what the queen made him—and learn to love.