The Hunting Season

Seventeen-year-old Xandra Storm is the best gem forger in the city. She’s also heiress to the Ash Order, the criminal organization that deals in precious metals and gems. She knows she’s ready to become an official member and rise within their ranks, but her regent uncle doesn’t agree. Blane Cascade is the opposite. Heir abdicator of the Mist Order, he hates the lethal power of his ice magic. Power begets control, control begets evil, and he prefers to leave that to his heartless mother who forced him into this Order in the first place. But he remains to protect his brothers and his cousin, Vega.

When their rival Orders collide in a street brawl, Xandra jumps at the chance to prove her fighting skills with her fire magic, and comes face to face with Blane. They have score to settle: his mother murdered hers. With a few clever moves, Xandra gets Vega arrested—her uncle has to promote her now. Instead, he’s tired of her unsanctioned fighting and offers her a mortal deal: If she wants to fight so badly, she must attend the perilous Centennial Competition at the castle, win, and steal a centuries-lost Order relic. If she does, he’ll make her a true member of their Order. If she doesn’t, she’ll be dead anyway. Across the city, Blane has his own dilemma: in order to rescue Vega, he must steal his brother’s invitation to the Centennial.

Once there, Xandra and Blane realize they are the only Order members amongst nobles. To win the deadly trials, they’ll have to rely on each other. But they soon discover the word “deadly” taking on a whole new meaning as romantic feelings bloom. Facing the trials alone might be less dangerous than working together—because there’s no way they’ll survive falling for each other.