He has spent three centuries taking what he wants. She may be the one thing he cannot keep.Vesper Quill has two ambitions: build a jewellery empire of her own and discover why her family left behind a collection of designs nobody seems willing to discuss.She never expected an antique gold ring to bring her to the attention of Lucien Varr.Wealthy. Beautiful. Ruthless.And something far more dangerous than human.Lucien has spent centuries building an empire on secrets, blood, and absolute control. He knows how to silence his enemies, manipulate a room, and make powerful people fear his displeasure. But Vesper refuses to obey him, refuses his money, and refuses to be impressed by the darkness behind his perfect reputation.He should leave her alone.Instead, he becomes obsessed.When a series of disappearances leads Vesper into Gloamspire's hidden supernatural society, she discovers that the jewellery inherited from her family may contain evidence of a conspiracy spanning generations. The deeper she investigates, the closer she comes to the truth Lucien has spent years concealing.His protection becomes surveillance. His jealousy becomes a warning. And the attraction between them grows more dangerous with every secret they uncover.But Lucien is hiding something far worse than his immortality.He knew about her family before they met.Now Vesper must decide whether the man who makes her feel more alive than anyone ever has is also the one person she can never afford to trust.Because in Lucien Varr's world, love is a weakness, loyalty has a price, and letting go is the one thing he has never learned to do.He wants her devotion. She wants the truth. And neither is prepared for what happens when obsession becomes love.

Julianne Vance, a dedicated culinary historian in her late twenties, accepts a commission at Ashcroft Manor to assess its neglected Victorian kitchen and recreate six historic dishes specified in the will of the late Constance Ashcroft. Hoping to strengthen her professional reputation and advance her research career, Julianne sees the assignment as an opportunity to demonstrate the importance of overlooked household histories.At the manor, she meets Thomas Ashcroft, an architect and reluctant heir who is considering selling the family estate. Thomas initially views the restoration as an obligation he must fulfil before moving on with his life. However, Julianne's discoveries begin to challenge his understanding of what Ashcroft represents.While examining old recipes, household accounts, and correspondence, Julianne finds references to a disputed agreement concerning western lands. The records mention Margaret Vale, a former household worker whose role appears to have been deliberately or accidentally obscured by later cataloguing decisions. Additional documents suggest that the surviving family archive may not contain the complete history of the arrangement.As Julianne and Thomas investigate, their professional cooperation develops into mutual attraction. Yet neither is ready to sacrifice personal ambitions for a relationship. Julianne still fears pursuing a major research opportunity in London, while Thomas struggles with the expectations attached to his inheritance. The missing documents draw them deeper into Ashcroft's past, forcing them to question what the family legacy truly means and who has been excluded from its official story.