The Ashes of Eldoria

He steals secrets to survive. She was raised to hide secrets.

Lady Isabella Valerius was born in a gilded cage and spent her childhood being polished like silver — perfect daughter, perfect manners, perfect cage. But she dreams of the smoke of the lower city. Her house is drowning in debt from her father's wars, and the only rope left is a marriage to Lord Malakai, a man whose name even guards whisper in fear.

She doesn't want to marry Malakai, she wants to live.

One night, she runs from her marble balcony to the smoke of the lower city — and there, in a dark alley, she sees him.

Sebastien, who has no house, no name in the high city. They call him a ghost. A thief with burning eyes who can open any lock. He is caught stealing bread for his sister by Malakai's private hounds. He doesn't steal for gold, he steals for justice.

She should run. Instead, she asks him to teach her how to steal her own life back, and she shouts — "Stop!"

And for the first time in her life, her life actually starts.

He teaches her to pick locks. She teaches him to trust. Her Kingdom is on the verge of war. Together they steal the only thing that can save her — the Ledger of House Valerius. A book that holds every debt, every secret, and one terrible deal. If the debt is not paid by the Harvest Moon, it will be paid in marriage to Isabella.

And the thief who stole the Ledger? Sebastien — arrogant, dangerous, and the only man who would burn the world to protect her.

But the lower city has a ruler whose name even guards whisper — Malakai. And now he wants her. He already knows. He has watched them from the shadows, he has come to the ball to claim his prize, and he will not let his prize run.

He is a bad boy from the shadows. She is royalty bound by duty. Their love is forbidden, but destiny has tied them as fated mates.

Forced into an uneasy alliance, they must travel through a magical Kingdom where betrayal lurks at every corner.

Can a forbidden bond survive when revenge and war collide? A slow-burn dark romantasy filled with action, mystery, and a love that could burn the Kingdom or save it.

*What you will love : Slow-Burn, Forbidden Love, Grumpy x Sunshine, Different Worlds, Forced Marriage, Possessive Hero, Strong Heroine, Found Family, Rich Girl x Poor Thief, He Falls First, Dark Fantasy

*Content Warning:* 16+ Dark Romantasy with violence and mature themes.