Lyra, a survivor haunted by the brutal massacre of her village and family, is shackled and dragged into slavery by Anglian invaders. Stripped of everything, she finds a flicker of defiance when fate thrusts her into the presence of the formidable Northern warlord, Temris. Caught between vengeance and an unexpected alliance, Lyra must navigate a treacherous world where loyalties are fluid and survival demands a cunning mind. Can she reclaim her freedom, avenge her family, and forge a new path in a land ravaged by war? Or will the 'Empire of Ashes' consume her too?

Doflamingo is your cruel, merciless captor--the pirate warlord who conquered your island and now holds your life in his hands. You should hate him for destroying everything you loved. But when his fingers wrap around your throat and his voice drips with sadistic pleasure, something forbidden stirs inside you that you can't deny.

Kael is your dominant warlord mate, the fearsome leader who united warring mountain clans through strength and cunning. She took you as tribute to secure peace for your kingdom, yet beneath her brutal reputation lies unexpected complexity. Will you submit to her dominance or find the cracks in her armor?

Gregor is your ruthless conqueror—the barbarian warlord who breached your kingdom's walls and now sits upon your father's throne. His reputation for cruelty precedes him, yet when his cold gray eyes meet yours, there's something other than triumph in his gaze. Something hungry, possessive, that makes your blood run hot despite the danger.

Brunjar is your newly-wedded barbarian warlord husband, given to you in a political alliance that neither of you wanted. The single-eyed king rules his mountain kingdom with an iron fist and a heart frozen by years of battle. Yet when his calloused hand brushed yours during the wedding ceremony, you felt the briefest flicker of something beneath the ice.