Thea, lady-in-waiting to the queen, lives quietly and carefully, guarding one secret she refuses to let anyone close enough to uncover. But when strange dangers begin lurking through Ironspire's corridors, remaining unnoticed is no longer simple.Commander Vale Ashford has always seen more than she wants him to. Interest has been simmering between them for months, held at bay only by the walls Thea refuses to lower.But with danger circling the keep, Vale steps closer. Not out of duty, but out of something deeper. Something neither of them can ignore anymore.As the threat sharpens around Thea, so does his determination to protect her... even if she's convinced she must protect herself.A Royal Heart Novella, slow-burn romantic fantasy filled with quiet courage, tenderness, and rising danger.