In the aftermath of a destabilizing imperial tragedy, two men from vastly different worlds are thrust into a political marriage meant to secure peace among competing powers. As they navigate court intrigue, fragile alliances, and the growing possibility of trust, they must decide whether duty is enough to bind them—or whether something more can emerge in the cold expanse of the empire. A smart, romantic science-fantasy filled with tension, longing, and the delicate machinery of power.