Shield of Sparrows

The gods once sent monsters to remind mortals they must kneel—and I’ve spent my life kneeling to them and to my father. I was never meant to rule, never meant to fight, never meant to seal a blood-bound treaty that destroyed my future. But the moment a legendary hunter arrived at our shores, everything changed. Now I’m crossing treacherous lands beside a warrior who despises me, bound to a marriage I didn’t choose and a fate I refuse to accept. Everyone wants me to be a queen, a spy, a sacrifice… but they’ve underestimated me. This time, I choose who I become.