Perilous Courts

Whisper doesn’t remember his real name. All he knows is the elite assassin guild that raised him—and controls him with the threat of blood magic. Plagued by nightmares, he doesn’t get to refuse assignments, even when his new job doesn’t make sense: infiltrate Prince Julien’s court, protect him until the signal arrives, then kill him.

Sheltered, sickly Prince Bellamy dreams of adventure—but not like this. Captured in enemy territory, his royal identity will get him killed. When his dangerously attractive fellow prisoner asks who he is, Bellamy claims to be a minstrel. Except he can’t carry a tune to save his life. He panicked, okay?

Be obedient. Be grateful. As the neglected illegitimate son of a powerful family, Corin is expected to follow his magic-gifted brother to the palace as a servant. He’s unwilling but resigns and allows himself one night of distraction in a stranger’s arms. Corin never knew pleasure and pain could be so exhilarating, so comforting. Corin only regrets he’ll never again see the anonymous man who ruined him for anyone else. Until the next morning when Corin meets his brother’s new arranged fiancé.

Vana Dire can't show weakness if he wants to survive the Draskoran court. The only man he can be vulnerable with is Daromir—Vana's magic-bound bodyguard. The binding lets them share each other's pain, and Vana depends on Daromir's comfort as much as his services as a guard. Vana could never risk their friendship—even if he craves far more than Daromir's loyalty. Daromir Azri sees a side of Vana nobody else sees. Behind closed doors, the cold, elegant prince is kindhearted and vulnerable. He needs Daromir. If Daromir's devotion sometimes feels like something else? Daromir must be mistaken.

Sei's power isn't truly his. As a grail, his role is to serve a mage by augmenting their magic. He's equally nervous and excited about his arranged betrothal. After a life without intimacy, Sei will finally fulfill his true purpose as a treasured, valuable grail. There's only one problem: Sei's new betrothed is the legendary Marek Dire.

Prince Kazia Dire isn't nice. Being nice lets people close. Letting people close risks revealing Kazia's greatest secret—the power that condemns him to a lifetime of abuse. Until opportunity appears in the form of a captive enemy mage.