A pact forged in dragonfire. A queen who steals with a smile. And a girl who refuses to be anyone's doorway.

Elysabeth?known to everyone as Izzy?never asked to be tied to a kingdom of dragons.

But when an ancient force called Rootfire brands her wrist and binds her to Prince Rhydian, she becomes the final piece of a blood-soaked political game... one his ruthless mother, Queen Maelira, has been waiting to win.

Rhydian is dangerous. Beautiful. Loyal to the crown he was raised to obey.

And Izzy is the one thing he was never meant to choose.

Hunted through collapsing shrines, sealed tunnels, and rivers that remember old magic, Izzy learns the truth too late: Maelira doesn't need soldiers to capture a girl?she only needs hunger, fear, and time.

But Izzy isn't the queen's bride.

She isn't a sacrifice.

And she won't let Rhydian become the weapon Maelira wants.

Because the deadliest kind of magic isn't fire.

It's choice.