Prologue“Dad, stay with me,” she whispered, voice cracking. Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. At twenty-four, she had already carried too much, running the failing family bookshop, selling her illustrations in secret, and keeping her younger brother Theo safe from their father’s gambling mess.Her father’s eyes fluttered open. They were full of fear. “Liora… listen. The debt. Cassian Rook Valerian. He’s coming. Don’t fight him. Just survive.”“What debt?” she asked, leaning closer. His skin felt cold and paper-thin. “You said it was just a few bad bets. We can fix this. I’ll talk to the banks…”He shook his head weakly. “More than money, girl. Old blood ties. Our family… his family. Oaths from long ago. I thought I could run from it.” A painful cough shook his body. “Protect Theo. Promise me. Whatever it takes. Don’t let them touch him.”“I promise,” Liora said, squeezing his hand. Theo was only sixteen, smart, kind, and the one good thing left in their lives.
Last Updated : 2026-08-03 Read more