Lyria has been on the run for as long as she can remember.

She’s an elf born with magic — a double offense in a kingdom determined to eradicate both. Under her mother’s watchful protection, Lyria learns the rules that keep her alive: stay inside, stay hidden, stay safe, and above all, stay calm, lest her magic flare out of control. But when she finds a human boy being attacked by a monster in the forest, Lyria risks everything by using magic to save him. She doesn’t expect his broken body to survive. She definitely doesn’t expect him to be the prince.

Offered a position at the palace as the royal apothecary, Lyria seizes the chance to step into the light and prove to her mother she can control her unwieldy magic. But Verdinae is not the paradise it seems. The nobles are ruthless, the secrets are deadly, and Cygnus—the brooding royal healer—seems determined to expose Lyria’s every flaw. As she navigates a world of glittering gowns, deadly secrets, and stolen kisses, Lyria must keep her identity hidden… even as she’s falling in love.