Lucan wakes in chains, branded a fugitive and haunted by fragments of a burning palace. Rescued by Elara Frostvale, a northern noblewoman trapped in a political betrothal, he slowly discovers his true identity—the lost Ashborne heir, whose forbidden dragon fire was once blamed for the kingdom’s fall. As the usurper Darius and the Hollow Flame priesthood tighten their grip on Eldoria, Lucan must reclaim not only his memories but also the truth behind the treason that destroyed his family. Elara refuses to be a bargaining chip; together, they forge a new covenant—not of blood sacrifice, but of public law and shared rule. But when the old crown is melted down and the ashes settle, a dark spire rises from the sea, and an ancient whisper promises that the fire is far from over.
