The Virgin Queen. Chronicles of Parthalan, #2

A broken queen. A friendship mired in deceit. Can one man from the desert help hold the realm together? Asherah, Queen of Parthalan and Lady of Tingu, has led her people through eight centuries of prosperity. That peace shatters when Mersgoth, the mordeth thought long dead, attacks Teg'urnan. In the aftermath a new warrior emerges: Aeolmar, a man as secretive as he is deadly. Asherah and Aeolmar race across Parthalan in pursuit of Mersgoth, and track the beast to the High Desert.
During this time they become close, and Asherah learns that Aeolmar has his own reasons for wanting Mersgoth dead-the mordeth murdered his family. What Asherah doesn't know is how important Aeolmar's parents really were, and Aeolmar will do anything to keep that secret. While in the High Desert Asherah rescues a shopkeeper, Finlay of Cadogan, from a demon attack. Impressed and humbled by the queen's bravery, Finlay spends the next seven winters training to become one of her soldiers.
When Finlay presents himself at Teg'urnan, no one is more surprised than he when Asherah admits him. On the surface, all seems well in Teg'urnan, but Asherah senses something amiss. Unbeknownst to her, one of her closest companions is conspiring with the Dark Fae against the elves... Against Leran, king of the elves and Asherah's son in all but blood. Will Asherah learn the truth before it's too late, or will the rot at Parthalan's core be the end of her, and Leran? THE VIRGIN QUEEN - Book Two of the Chronicles of Parthalan