Xian was shaped by shadows. Taken as a child to the infamous Lotus Pond, he was trained to serve the Gilded Emperor as a tool of subterfuge, a collector of secrets, and a weapon against Semetra’s enemies. Stripped of his past and identity, he has only one purpose: to protect his homeland and redeem the shame of his father’s dishonor. But when Xian is sent on his most dangerous mission yet—to infiltrate the enemy kingdom of Rathania—he discovers a land as wild and unpredictable as its infamous rulers. Rathania is a kingdom teetering on chaos, where ancient magic entwines with rebellion, and its enigmatic Four Thrones hold power as much through mystery as force. Xian must navigate court intrigue, rivalries, and the ever-present threat of war, but what he doesn’t anticipate is Prince Lamaj di Alexela—a man as fierce as the flames of his brother's crown. What begins as a mission of espionage becomes an intricate dance of trust and betrayal as Xian and Lamaj grow closer. In a kingdom where loyalties are fragile and the truth is a blade that cuts both ways, Xian must decide if his duty is worth sacrificing his humanity—and the first flicker of love he’s ever known. As the shadows of war deepen, Xian is forced to question everything he’s ever believed: his country, his mission, and his own worth. For in Rathania, nothing is as it seems—and neither is he.