The celebration lasted one night. Then reality set in. “Your father is planning something,” Phoenix warned the next morning. “He’s […]

Freedom tasted like ash and victory mixed together. Ember stood in Blaze’s chambers—their chambers now, officially recognized by the court—and

Twenty-four hours in the dungeons felt like twenty-four years. Ember couldn’t see Blaze, but she could feel him through the

The closing session began with traditional ceremony—boring speeches about unity and cooperation that meant nothing. Ember sat beside Blaze in

They had six days left. Ember sat in the palace gardens—the private ones, hidden deep in the Fire Court—reviewing their

Marcus survived the interrogation. Barely. Phoenix healed him in secret, using magic to close wounds that would’ve killed a mortal.

A week later, King Inferno made good on his promise. “You’ll accompany me to the mortal markets,” he announced at

Ember’s first lesson in fire magic came three days after the bond completed. She stood in a private courtyard deep

Ember stared at her hands—her flaming, not-burning hands—and tried to process what had just happened. She was on fire. Actual

Ember woke to sunlight and panic. She was still in Blaze’s chambers. Still in his arms. And someone was knocking