Flamebound - Caterina Albano

Ser Garrick Vale walked away from a king and a golden dragon with nothing but his sword and his pride. He told himself he was choosing honour. He did not expect to gain a shadow.

Maelis is too tall, too loud, and far too fearless for a ten year old with no name worth speaking of. She follows him out of the capital, through swamp and forest, into a realm where dragons circle like gods and the Faith of Embers burns anything it cannot control. Garrick calls her a leech. She refuses to let go.

In the Marshlands, beneath the watch of ancient houses and restless beasts, a tournament gathers more than knights hungry for glory. The High King arrives on wings of gold. His children descend with fire in their wake. And one dragon with a spine of violet does not look at the crowd. It looks at the orphan girl.

As whispers of witchcraft and rebellion coil through the realm, Garrick is forced to confront the truth he tried to outrun.

Some thrones do not stay empty. Some flames do not ask permission before they rise. And some monsters are only waiting for the right child to claim them.