Eighteen-year-old Eloise Wylde has always been able to see when people are lying—a strange, shadowy aura that flickers around them like smoke. She keeps it a secret from everyone but her unreliable father, who uses her gift to hustle poker games. But when a con goes violently wrong, Eloise finds herself on the run—hunted by criminals with secrets darker than she ever imagined. Cornered and desperate, she strikes a dangerous deal with a mysterious stranger named Light—a man cloaked in shadows, secrets, and a wicked smile. He saves her life, but nothing comes free. Bound to him by a supernatural mark, Eloise is pulled into a world of ancient magic, monstrous enemies, and riddles with blood-stained answers. To save her father, Eloise must journey deeper into Light’s world, where alliances shift like smoke and the truth cuts deeper than any lie. But the further she falls, the more tangled her fate becomes with his—and breaking the bond may cost her more than her soul.

Requirements & Requests

Lover of romance, urban fantasy, banter, magic. Focus on the reader experience: Were you hooked at the start? Did the middle drag? Was the ending satisfying?

Trigger Warnings:

Violence – Scenes involving fights, physical aggression, and supernatural combat. Manipulation – Several characters manipulate or deceive the protagonist for their own agendas. Death – Including a sudden and violent death near the end of the book. Kidnapping ​/​ Captivity – The protagonist is almost taken against her will. Sexual content (implied or fade to black) – While nothing explicit is graphically described, there are intimate moments that verge on sensual. Mild language – If any curse words or suggestive dialogue are used.