The Awakened Prince

A grieving widow. A prince reborn. A love that dares to rise from the ashes.

One year after the brutal death of her husband, Princess Isabelle Rothchester faces an impossible future. With her heart still in mourning and her homeland of Barony torn by war, she must return to take her place as queen—and choose a new consort to stand beside her.

Prince Serge Rothchester has only just awakened from the edge of death, his body broken but his heart very much alive. The world he wakes to is irrevocably changed—his older brother gone, his younger brother crowned king. But amid the wreckage, one chance remains: Isabelle. The woman he has secretly loved for years. The woman he was never meant to have.

When duty demands they marry, a spark ignites—one that neither of them can deny. But while Serge dreams of winning Isabelle's heart, she clings to the memory of the man she lost… and the guilt of what her heart now craves.

As rebellion brews in Barony and danger rises on every side, Serge and Isabelle must decide if their unexpected passion can blossom into something lasting—or if love, like kingdoms, must sometimes be rebuilt from ruin.

The Awakened Prince is the emotional second installment of The Royals of Cardenas—a sweeping historical/fantasy romance series filled with political intrigue, heartfelt longing, and the healing power of a love worth fighting for.

Previous published as The Second Son. Re-released in 2019 with all-new edits, content, cover, and title.