Thorns: Briar and Bone Trilogy, Book 1 (The Briar and Bone Trilogy)

Speak to the earth, and it will answer in blood.

Elanthara “Elle” Risham has spent her life locked in a gilded cage, plagued by an agonizing, bone-deep pressure she believes is a fatal illness.

Kai Severin is a scarred survivor of the fighting pits. Hollowed out and lethal, he expects his new assignment as Elle’s personal bodyguard to be nothing more than babysitting a spoiled merchant's daughter.

He doesn't expect her to be a weapon.

When a mercenary ambush leaves Kai bleeding out in the mud, the pressure inside Elle finally snaps. An explosive, catastrophic eruption of ancient magic saves their lives—but it brands Elle a monster. Hunted by her father’s guards and the elite assassins of a dark sorceress, the two are forced to flee into the unforgiving wilderness.

To survive the treacherous plains, the pampered noble and the broken soldier must learn to rely entirely on one another. As the icy hostility between them melts into a fierce, undeniable bond, time is running out. With an ancient shadow stirring in the west and arcane nightmares hunting them, Elle must figure out how to control the terrifying power waking in her blood.

Thorns is the breathless, high-stakes opening to the Briar and Bone Trilogy—an epic fantasy romance perfect for fans of deadly ancient magic, fiercely protective heroes, and unforgettable slow-burn tension.