A mother defies gods and demons to save her stolen child.
A kingdom fractures, a demon rises, and a fallen demigod holds the key to saving her daughter.
Coming in March 2026
When Kadi’s young daughter is kidnapped, she vows to cross kingdoms to bring her home. But the world beyond her city is unraveling. War is whispered in the palace, demons are rising, and the gods who once protected humanity have fallen silent.
Desperate for help, Kadi turns to Dzaro, the father of her child and a fallen demigod whose dangerous power once destroyed an army. Haunted by the lives he couldn’t save, Dzaro wants nothing to do with the coming war until he realizes the kidnapping is tied to the same dark forces that shattered his past.
Together, they must navigate a distant land where magic is forbidden, alliances are brittle, and every choice carries a cost. As the two race to save their daughter, Dzaro must confront the demon he helped create. Both will be forced to decide what they’re willing to sacrifice—and whether saving one child may cost them a kingdom.
In a world breaking under its own power, a mother’s courage may be the only thing strong enough to bring her daughter home.
Excerpt
Fresco dust twirled in a cascade of light. A scrape of heavy boot against stone floor had her hunching her shoulders. She clutched her brush in a death grip and busied herself outlining the tiger’s face so she wouldn’t have to turn around. Her hand slipped and smeared a stripe.
The thudding boots stopped at the entry to the room.
Kadi’s heart was torn, dreading the inevitable yet curious about the mischief. Without turning, she heaved a sigh and asked, “What did Jybril do now? Climb the plants in the hanging garden? Release the palace llarmals into the streets? Throw fruit off the balcony into the courtyard?”
“No, Miss Kadi. Your daughter has done nothing wrong.”
Today was unspoken. She turned, undoing the silk scarf she wore as a filter over her nose and mouth. The practiced smile slipped from her lips as she found not only two palace guards but two soldiers of the Khesari Royal Army, impeccably uniformed and armed with an array of weapons. What in Shavr’s name had her daughter done? “What’s wrong?”
The military hafdar stepped forward. “Zadia Kadi, there has been an incident. Your daughter was playing in the Queen’s bee gardens when Northern maghas stole her away. They thought she was a Queensdaughter. Rest assured, Majdar Foras is doing everything in his power to find her. We will keep you informed.” He motioned for his soldier to retreat.
Kadi’s stomach clenched, and the world lurched beneath her feet. The beautiful light in the library faded to dim pinpoints before her eyes; the wall, her masterpiece, blurred into pale blotches as the world tilted. Jybril? Gone? The word rang in her ears, and paint dripped steadily off the end of her brush and dribbled onto the marbled floor.