Ivaran Taghai–the reluctant protector.
Avalkhir has fallen. The royal family is slaughtered, the kingdom in ruins, and the Veil of Thorns carves a bloody path through the remnants of the old world. But one heir remains—a princess in exile, hunted, nameless, and alone. Her only protector? Ivaran Taghai, a half-blood rogue with no love for crowns or causes. Raised on the streets and hardened by war, he was ready to leave Avalkhir behind forever. Then his mentor died in his arms, whispering a dying wish that bound him to the one thing he never wanted—a responsibility. Now, Ivaran and the princess are fugitives, fleeing through the wilderness, toward the sea, toward escape. But the past does not die so easily. Old ghosts and older gods stir in the ashes of Avalkhir. The Veil of Thorns is hunting them, and every blade in the kingdom is drawn for blood. Ivaran is no hero. He’s spent his life running. But this time, there’s someone keeping pace. And he doesn’t know if he’s willing to let her go.