Nonmagical people are being demonized and falsely blamed for Magnifico’s economic problems after Queen Vivian’s bloody rise to power. But politics very quickly become more than abstract views to argue about when secret police wolves are deployed throughout the country to kill those born without magical abilities.<br><br>Seventeen-year-old Maximillian’s best friend Katherine is one such nonmagical person. In a bid to keep her safe, Maximillian turns to the queen’s estranged younger brother, a man thought to be dead until recently.<br><br>Prince Stefan is nineteen years old and has been in hiding from his family for years. He has no desire to resurface in the political world. Can Maximillian convince him the country needs him before it’s too late?

In the Name of Magic

Twinges of nausea rolled through my stomach and vomit spewed from my mouth, making my humiliation complete. “I’m so sorry,” I said.


She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll clean that up in a minute.”


“We should’ve helped Mrs. Lars. She didn’t do anything wrong.” I sobbed.


Mom exhaled a breath. “That would have put us on the secret police wolves’ radar.”


My words lingered in my mind, and despite their simplicity, there was something haunting about witnessing Mrs. Lars’s death. I had a personal connection to Mrs. Lars, which made her death feel more like Grandma’s as opposed to Queen Penny and King Dorian’s beheadings. Sure. My family wasn’t best friends with her. But she didn’t have any family, and we sometimes invited her over for dinner.


“I know, I know.” Mom opened her arms and hugged me. She continued gripping me for a beat before I pulled away.


Chapter 32