Book excerpt: Loyalty. Magic. Ambition. Which will triumph? Returned to Temari Hall after her abduction, Lira’s ultimate ambition remains unchanged. Destroy Underground and leverage that victory to rise up the ranks of the Mage Council. Make them all forget about the Darkmage and remember her instead. To do that, she must win back the trust of Underground while secretly spying on them for the Mage Council. Exposure would mean her death at the hands of the powerful Shadowcouncil. But the arrival of Ahrin Vensis at Temari Hall places Lira in greater danger than ever before. The Darkhand’s agenda is unknown, and she hides secrets that could undo everything Lira is working towards. Winning the Darkhand to her side would guarantee victory, but to do that Lira will need to betray those who offer a gift she’s never had but always yearned for… acceptance and friendship. Can she successfully walk the line between ambition and loyalty, or will Lira’s hunger for danger leave her standing amidst the ashes of all her hopes? The second book in Heir to the Darkmage is filled with grey heroines, magical monsters, unlikely friends, and slow burn f/f romance. Perfect for fans of Christopher Mitchell, Jada Fisher, and DK Holmberg.