Lyla's life is planned. In a few months, she'll be leaving her stifling small village and the vicious rumors that have marked her as unsuitable to be anyone's wife, for the endless opportunities of the large port city of Balast. There she will finish her training as a magical healer, join an adventuring team, and see the world beyond the mountainous valleys of the High Passes that she's lived in her whole life.

Then a tragedy strikes.

Lyla doesn't know the secret that the soldier who saved her life is keeping from her. Worse yet, she doesn't know that he accidentally bound himself to her when he saved her life and that without her he will slowly lose his mind. What she does know is that her parents, the village elders, and even her best friend, are falling all over themselves to marry her off to this nearly perfect stranger with far too many muscles for her to take him seriously.

Can she escape this unexpected marriage that is messing up her plans for greatness? Will she even want to? Or will this be exactly the kind of adventure she was hoping for all along?





Do you love reading about the Mages of the Empire of Man?  Try my book "Lines of Inheritance" The first of a series about the conflict between the Empire of Man, The Matriarchy, And The Priestess Isles.

Or check out my web series "Inheritance" and read about the political intrigue within The Matriarchy and the uneasy truce they have with the Orc Horde.

Empire of Man - Book 1: The First Empress

For some reason, that kiss pulled on her heart. Everything about this man was terrifying to her. His eyes the color of the alpine sky that flushed with shades of violet when he was happy made her shiver. The crinkles that creased his eyelids and the laughter lines bracketing the corners of his mouth were like familiar landmarks she followed home. And Lan’s arm around her had become quite comfy. 


What was this place to her? Who were these people? What did she owe them? They had lied to her and hidden the truth. She had almost died because no one had told her what was going on. What other danger would she be put in because of the elders? Why hadn’t the village been warned that there were so many people being murdered along the caravan trails? Why hadn’t they warned her? 


Chapter 15 - Home