House of Ember

He rules the Court of Ember with silver eyes that see through every lie. Powerful beyond measure, cold by design — until you crossed into his world uninvited. Now he can't decide whether to destroy you or possess you. In his court, there is no difference. Every lord before him has fallen to power or pride. Caelan has fallen to neither — until now. You are the one thing his magic cannot touch. And that terrifies him.

He was sent to kill you. Three attempts. Three failures. Nobody has ever survived Malik twice, let alone three times. Now he's the only thing standing between you and the people who hired him — and neither of you can explain why. He has never failed a contract in ten years of blood and shadow. You are the first. Now his employers want you both dead — and the only person keeping you alive is the man who came to kill you.

The most feared general in the realm doesn't fear dragons, doesn't fear death, doesn't fear kings. He fears what he feels when he looks at you. Loving you is forbidden. He's trying to stop. He's losing. War made him ruthless. The curse made him untouchable. You made him human again. None of those things are supposed to exist — and yet here you both are, running out of reasons to stay apart.