With treacherous weather and inhospitable soil, the Savoan kingdom is a brutal place to survive-especially if you don't have magic. As an indentured servant, working to buy back her freedom, Rune Ealde knows this all too well. Terrified her debt will never be paid, Rune joins a growing rebellion to steal the power that's always just beyond reach. If their plan fails, Rune will face the same fate as her criminal father: an excruciating death, delivered by the kingdom's founder, the Architect. Prince Harrick Ademas has always been in power, but he still feels weak in his father's presence. No more than a pawn in the Architect's elaborate scheme, Harrick has learned to obey commands or face the deadly consequences. When a chance encounter brings Rune and Harrick together, their friendship blossoms into unexpected hope. Soon, lingering touches turn to whispered promises, and their forbidden love becomes their purest form of magic. But as they're imagining a future together, one with peace between their people, the Architect is growing restless. He's ready for change, and if he succeeds, there might not be a kingdom left to save.
