A Crown of Gilded Lies

She's a thief who steals for survival. He's a king who lies for a crown. In a city fueled by stolen magic, the most dangerous thing they can do is trust each other. Lyra is a shadow in the Docks of Oakhaven, a master thief who just made the mistake of a lifetime. Caught in the royal vaults by the formidable King Kaelen-the legendary "Ice King"-she … She's a thief who steals for survival. He's a king who lies for a crown. In a city fueled by stolen magic, the most dangerous thing they can do is trust each other. Lyra is a shadow in the Docks of Oakhaven, a master thief who just made the mistake of a lifetime. Caught in the royal vaults by the formidable King Kaelen-the legendary "Ice King"-she expects the gallows. Instead, she's offered a deadly bargain: Play the role of his fake fiancée, or face the executioner's blade. Kaelen is a king under siege. With a treasonous High Council plotting his downfall and a mysterious mark appearing on his closest advisors, he needs a spy who knows how to move in the dark. Lyra is his perfect weapon. But the palace is a labyrinth of gilded lies, and the "fake" engagement is a game where one wrong move means death. As the tension between them burns hotter than the magic of the Star of Aethelgard, Lyra discovers that the king she was born to hate is the only man who truly sees her. But when the heist of a century goes wrong and a traitor is revealed, they must decide: Will they save the kingdom, or let it burn for a chance at a real future? A Crown of Gilded Lies is a steamy, enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance perfect for fans of thief-heroine tropes, forced proximity, and slow-burn political intrigue. If you love a brooding, protective king and a feisty, independent heroine, this high-stakes romantasy will keep you turning pages until the final, heart-stopping conclusion.