Liza should be the rightful heir to Emberwyn, but she was disgraced the moment she displayed an aptitude for the element of fire instead of water, like her mother and all of her predecessors. Queen Moira hunted down and killed off every last fire mage centuries ago, fearing they would rise up one day and take her throne. She was convinced that Liza was her punishment from the gods, but she couldn't bring herself to kill her own daughter. Instead, she kept her hidden away in the palace, swore anyone who knew Liza's real lineage to secrecy, and made sure that Liza only ever grew up to know what a pathetic failure she was. Desperate to regain the land she lost when the dragons took over the Beithir Mountains, Moira sends Liza to Mytharae to woo their young prince. She alludes that Liza can regain her place as heir if she succeeds in securing his hand in marriage, but if she fails she's forbidden from ever returning to Emberwyn. A series of unfortunate events lands Liza in a situation where she has to choose whether to kill or be killed, and she's never even been capable of harming a fly. Slade Grimsbane, the famed assassin known only as Sàmhach Marbhadh, has been doing his best to stay in Leodric's good graces, but he's already starting to question his mentor's motives when he's called to do a job that pays so well he simply cannot refuse it. Killing is something he's quite skilled at. He's never missed a mark. This kill proved to be his greatest achievement yet, but the cost is more than he bargained for. He's blackmailed into another assignment that may just prove to be the death of him. Tropes: enemies to lovers, one bed, slow burn, forced proximity