A fallen crown. A living fire. A vow that refuses to die.When the First Flame gutters and an empire fractures, princess-in-exile Aranya is blamed for the ruin-and hunted for the miracle in her blood: a fire that heals as easily as it destroys. To survive, she strikes an uneasy pact with Kael, a disgraced captain whose loyalty burned away on the night the palace fell. He wants absolution. She wants her father's throne back-or the power to leave it in ash. Together, they must cross a desert of dead gods, outwit a priesthood that worships the Flame like a weapon, and claim a relic said to judge the worth of whoever dares to touch it.But every bargain has a spark price. Aranya's gift is waking something older than kings, and Kael's past may be the ember that brings the hunters to their door. If they can't master the fire between them, the last hope of the realm will burn with the world it was meant to save. Perfect for readers of romantic epic fantasy who crave propulsive quests, court intrigue, and a slow-burn bond forged in battle and bound by choice.