The Smiling Dark

She survived by becoming ruthless. When her power finally broke, it split the ground beneath the realm and brought the king's own guard to her door.

They gave her comfort. Riches. A city that celebrated her as the first Touched born in generations and a bond with the only dragon anyone has seen in five hundred years.

Years later, they mistake her stillness for surrender.

An enemy kingdom sends a shadow soldier to kidnap her. He has no idea what he's just been signed up for.

When an attack tears through everything she's built, she'll do whatever it takes to keep her children safe, no matter what it costs, no matter who's still standing after.

Dark fantasy. Enemies to Lovers. Corrupt kingdoms. Buried history. A heroine everyone underestimates, right up until they can't.

They hear the softness. They miss the fire underneath it.