In the shadow-drenched city of Duskmere, where magic is forbidden and secrets are carved into stone, two souls from opposing worlds become dangerously intertwined.Iris Verran is a poor herbalist scraping by in the city’s underbelly. He hides more than just hunger behind his green eyes—he harbors a forgotten bloodline, one tied to a magic long erased by the ruling noble Houses. Beaten down by poverty, burdened by whispers, Iris has learned to live quietly. Until one night, in a moonlit alley, everything changes.Almond Drevar is the heir to House Drevar, one of the most feared magical dynasties in Duskmere. Cold, cruel, and devastatingly powerful, Almond has the city at his feet—and a shadow on his soul. He lives by one law: control or be consumed. When he saves Iris from a group of city guards, it isn’t kindness—it’s curiosity. Something about the boy’s aura calls to him… violently.Drawn together by blood, desire, and secrets, the two are caught in a dangerous dance of power and vulnerability. Almond offers Iris a place in his home—but not without price. What starts as protection becomes obsession. What begins as curiosity becomes need. And in a world where love can be a weapon, and magic is a crime, their bond could destroy them both.Beneath the silk sheets and candlelight, lies betrayal. Beneath the kisses, chains.And between them… something neither of them dares name.---Themes:Dark fantasyForbidden magicLGBTQ+ romance (MxM)Toxic love vs true connectionPower imbalanceNobility vs povertyEnemies to lovers / obsession trope