My husband burned me alive. My unborn child died in the flames. My cousin watched and smiled.

I woke up months before my death with fire in my blood and the memory of everyone who betrayed me.

They think I'm still the obedient wife. They have no idea what I've become.

Duke Caelan Vorenthal should be my enemy. My husband's greatest rival, dangerous in ways I'm only beginning to understand. But when the whole court stayed silent, he was the only one who saw the truth.

Now he's offering me something I never expected: an alliance. Protection. A way out.
And a heat between us that has nothing to do with the fire in my veins.

I'll play the devoted duchess until I drag my husband before the Empress and take back everything they stole. But Caelan isn't part of my plan.

He's becoming something far more dangerous. The one person I can't afford to want.
I was bred to obey. I was reborn to reign.

Regression | Revenge | Enemies-to-Lovers | Slow Burn | R18

I'll be marking Book 1 of Crown of Ash and Bonds: The Rise of the Flamebearer as complete.


Thank you for staying with the story through its first arc. I truly hope you choose to continue with me into Book 2 when it launches.


Book 2 was originally planned to begin earlier, but I spent the past week in a conference and wasn't able to finish the book cover in time. This short delay has also given me the chance to tighten the opening chapters so the next book reads cleaner, sharper, and more enjoyable from the start.


Book 2 will officially launch on February 14.I'll then resume the 3x-a-week publishing schedule starting the following Monday.


Thank you for your patience and for walking this journey with me. Your support is why I take the time to do this properly.


Chapter 119 - New Start