Synopsis

Lilithwasbornwithforbiddenmagic,apowerfearedandcondemnedinhervillage.Shehiditforyears,butwhenhersecretisexposed,sheisbetrayedbyherfamilyandsentencedtoburn.Justastheflamesrise,PrinceHadesofValyronknownasthe“ShadowofDeath”savesher,drivenbycuriosity.Hades,cursedforoverthreecenturies,hideshistormentbehindcruelty.AsLilithseespasthisdarknessandvowstohelphimbreakthecurse,theirbonddeepensintosomethingundeniable.Butinaworldwheremagicisbothagiftandacurse,willherlightfreehim,orwilltheirloveleadtotheirdestruction?EXCERPTLilithbarelybreathedasHadesemergedfromtheshadowsofherchamber,hispresencewrappingaroundherlikenightitself.Sheshouldmove.Sheshouldrun.Butshedidn’twantto.Hereachedforher,hisfingerstrailingalongherbottomlip—slow,deliberate.Sheshivered,notfromfear,butfromhim.Lilithswallowed,herpulseatraitorousdrumbeat.“Please…letmetouchyou,Hades.”Aghostofasmiletuggedathislips,buttherewasnohumorinit.“Dangerouslittlething.”Histhumblingeredatthecornerofhermouth,asifmemorizingitsshape.Hewhispered,tiltingherchinupashislipshoverednearhers—socloseshecouldfeelhisbreath.“Youwilldestroyme,littlewitch,”hemurmured,hisvoicethickwithsomethingraw.“Andyet…Ican’tletyougo.”Hisgazeburnedintohersasheadded,“Iwouldletyoudragmetohellifthat’swhatyoudesired.”