I was bred to obey. So when my beloved husband and dear cousin betrayed me with each other and had me burned alive, I should not have been surprised. But I was. Because I loved them both and never saw it coming.

My mother sacrificed her life to bring me back before my execution date. I woke with fire in my blood and the memory of every single thing they were going to do to me.

This time I did not wait. I dragged the affair into the open. I traced every stolen coin. I filed for divorce, gained the Empress's approval, and survived three awakening trials that almost broke me. Alaric is under house arrest and under investigation. But whatever he was part of isn't over. Not even close.

Duke Caelan Vorenthal. My husband's greatest rival. My ally. My protector. The man I never planned on wanting but chose anyway.

Then news arrived of his demise. His unit destroyed. No one came back.

My mother is dead because of the spell that saved me. The man I chose is gone. And now the wards tied to my blood are failing. I'm the only one who can hold them together, and there's one final trial standing between me and losing everything.

Someone has been pulling strings behind all of this. Houses falling. Families disappearing. I can feel it circling. I just can't name it yet.

Meet Crown Prince Thalion. He thinks I'm dangerous. He said it to my face. Now he's my escort because he doesn't trust anyone else to do it.

Every estate. Every ward. Every mile with this man watching my every step. He wasn't supposed to matter. He wasn't supposed to look at me the way he does when he thinks I can't see it.

I was bred to obey. I burned. I came back. And I am not done ruling.

Romance Fantasy | Regression | Revenge Second Chance • Enemies to Lovers • Forced Proximity • Slow Burn • Strong FL • Political Intrigue • Divorce #Rebirth #Betrayal#Revenge #abandoned#divorce #regression#slowburn #romance_fantasy #enemies_to_lovers #romantasy #forcedproximity