Ashbound. Soulfire Chronicles, #2

They survived the impossible bond. Now they must survive the aftermath. Three weeks after completing their forbidden union, Elara Thornwood and Prince Kael Ashenblade should be celebrating. Instead, they're mediating border disputes, dodging assassination attempts, and watching their fragile peace crumble under the weight of political manipulation. Sanctuary-the ancient fortress they've claimed as neutral ground-was meant to be a haven for bonded pairs with nowhere else to go.
But as more refugees arrive, bringing their merged magic and desperate hope, the fortress becomes something far more threatening to those in power: proof that the thousand-year war between Thornwood and Ashenblade is built on lies. Kael's uncle, Lord Mordain, sees the bonded prince as an obstacle to be eliminated. When King Aldric's health begins failing, Mordain's plots grow bolder. Whispers of corruption and treason echo through the Ashenblade court, all pointing toward the prince who dared bond with enemy blood.
Elara faces her own betrayal. The Thornwood Council, using her bond as evidence of infiltration, imprisons Master Corvain-the mentor who helped her survive. When she learns he's being tortured for information about a conspiracy that doesn't exist, she must choose between protecting Sanctuary and saving the man who saved her. The rescue mission that follows will test everything they've built. Using their merged magic in ways no one thought possible, Elara and Kael infiltrate Thornwood's most secure prison.
But success comes at a cost. Their actions give the war faction exactly what they needed: proof of Ashenblade aggression. As both kingdoms mobilize for conflict, Kael receives devastating news. His father is dying. The succession hangs in the balance. And Mordain's patience has run out. The attack on Sanctuary comes on a moonless night-a hundred soldiers sent to eliminate the "nest of traitors" that threatens the old order.
Outnumbered and exhausted, the bonded pairs must prove that their merged magic is more than academic theory. It's their only chance at survival. With their six-month deadline approaching and enemies closing in from all sides, Elara and Kael face their ultimate test. To save Sanctuary, they may have to sacrifice the crown. To claim the crown, they may have to abandon everything they've built. Or they could try the impossible: bridge both worlds and prove that love is stronger than centuries of hatred.
No one said revolution would be easy. ASHBOUND continues the epic romantasy series that began with SOULFIRE, delivering:? Enemies-to-lovers deepening into true partnership ? Found family in the form of bonded pair refugees ? Political intrigue with stakes that span kingdoms ? Merged magic that breaks all the rules ? A love story that challenges everything characters thought they knew ? The radical idea that unity is stronger than divisionFor fans of Sarah J.
Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and anyone who believes impossible is just undone yet.