Pottery & Peril

The only way to escape him may be to love him . . .

 When Suraya gets tapped for the mission to sneak an artifact stolen from her ancestral land out of the duke's palace, she knows her life will never be the same, but she has no idea what changes are in store for her.

 After days on the run, she stumbles into a quiet village that offers refuge, no questions asked. It's the perfect place to wait out the winter and let her trail go cold before she completes the mission to return the artifact to her people. There's even a vacant pottery shop, where she can ply the trade her grandparents taught her.

 But then a member of the duke's guard arrives. He's somehow tracked her—or is he tracking the artifact? He doesn't appear to have any idea that she's the thief. He even seems to be falling for her. He's a nice enough fellow, aside from the livery he wears. He's kind, helpful, and caring. Suraya can't help but wonder if she could get him to see the truth about who he serves and the righteousness of her cause. It's her only hope for avoiding capture and completing her mission.

 The visiting guard isn't the only threat to Suraya's safety in Rydding Village. With winter drawing nearer, the veil protecting the village from the spirit world is growing thinner, and something is trying to break through. If the villagers can't find a way to restore their magical protection, the threat of arrest could be the least of Suraya's worries.