For centuries, the five kingdoms of Aetheria have lived in peace, protected by an ancient seal created after a forgotten battle.The truth behind that seal has been preserved through the Ancient Riddles—fragments of history passed down through generations. But as the old bloodlines begin to awaken, the past starts making its way into the present.In Avaloria, an ancient power thought to belong only to legend appears once again.In Orynth, another bloodline carries a power connected to a history that few truly understand.And beneath the land of Aetheria, an ancient presence remains imprisoned.But the seal had one condition.The crown could not belong to just anyone.If it fell into the wrong hands, the ancient prison would begin to break.And somewhere beneath Aetheria, something that should have remained forgotten was waiting.As secrets surrounding the five kingdoms begin to surface, the heirs of the ancient bloodlines are drawn into a conflict that began centuries before they were born.Some legends are meant to be remembered.Others were buried for a reason.

At Crestview Academy, reputation is everything. Ashton Hayes has spent his entire life at the top. As the son of one of the city's most powerful families, he's admired by students, trusted by teachers, and used to getting whatever he wants. Then Emery Walker transfers to Crestview. She's stubborn, sharp-tongued, and completely immune to his charm. From their first argument, they become rivals, turning every class, competition, and school event into a battlefield. Ashton is supposed to hate her. Instead, he finds himself noticing her smile, defending her when nobody is looking, and thinking about her far more than he'd ever admit. But Emery is hiding a secret. The girl everyone believes is an ordinary scholarship student is actually Emery Sterling, the heiress to one of the wealthiest families in the country. She's spent years hiding her identity to escape the fake friendships and expectations that come with her name. When the truth finally comes out, it threatens to destroy everything they've built together. Caught between loyalty, family expectations, and a love neither of them saw coming, Ashton must decide whether the girl he was supposed to hate is worth risking everything for. Because some secrets change lives. And some people change hearts.