Fae of Bitter Thorn

Faerie wasn't supposed to be real. Tricked by a fae prince, Elora is stuck in the Faerie realm far from her young sisters who depend on her for survival. Under the terms of her bargain, she can't go home to the mortal world until Prince Brannick becomes the next High King. Or until he's taken out of the running... Sabotaging Brannick's chance at the crown will be much faster than helping him win. The fae prince may be charming, powerful, and wickedly handsome, but that won't stop Elora from selling his secrets to the highest bidder. By day, she uses her master sword skills to train the prince. By night, she conspires with a rival king in a nearby court whose plans could destroy half of Faerie. Soon, lives are at stake that she never expected. She'll have to choose who to save: her beloved sisters or half the inhabitants of Faerie. The choice would be easy... if a certain prince weren't digging his way into her heart.

Faerie bargains are not easily broken. Elora has decided to stay in Faerie to help Prince Brannick become High King. With the element of surprise on their side, they only have to hide their sword training lessons until the last phase of testing. But Brannick is ruled by a bargain that could ruin everything. Queen Alessandra is beginning to remember her history with the prince. With one word, she could force him to lose the testing and give up his freedom forever. With a growing reputation, Elora's anonymity in Faerie is shrinking fast. Her sisters are safe in the mortal realm, but she is desperate to help Brannick win the throne. If he doesn't, any number of fae could capture Elora. Or even worse... her sisters.

Faerie is forever changed. Mortals in Faerie always bring trouble, and after Elora's pivotal sacrifice, that trouble has spread throughout all the courts. It affects the very nature of their realm. The danger to Faerie is building. Prince Brannick is still determined to become High King and establish peace but doing so will require support from the other courts. Many fae still hesitate to back him after the sins of his mother. To win their favor, Prince Brannick must take on greater risks by offering bargains and making troubling promises. He wants to fight for his rightful place as High King. He wants to end his conflict with the queen of Fairfrost for good. And he wants to make sure Elora's sacrifice wasn't in vain. But his heart might be too broken to do any of that. Mortals in Faerie always bring trouble, and this time, it might be too much to bear.

Faerie itself is on the brink of destruction. Alone and frightened, Elora must return to Bitter Thorn to share news of Queen Alessandra's most recent victory. But the realm is crumbling before her eyes. Frost covers surfaces it should not. Defensive enchantments are not as strong as they should be. Everyone in Faerie is falling prey to the Fairfrost queen's manipulation. Though Elora's magic sometimes works, she still has no idea how or why. At every turn, Ansel impedes their progress and feeds the fear they can't escape. Fairfrost Palace is now heavily guarded, which makes it nearly impossible for them to face Queen Alessandra. To restore Prince Brannick to his rightful place as High King, Elora must learn to trust herself. It might be easier if her victories would last. It might be easier if she lived.