The Shackled Oath by Zenna Lake

Captain Azaria Sylvenhart built her squad from the discarded—misfits, refugees, and outcasts who would burn the world to protect one another. But when the council brands her a threat and assassination attempts follow, even her fiercest loyalty may not be enough to save what she’s built.

Blood mage Quinton Thornvale defected from enemy territory with blood on his hands and nowhere left to run. He didn’t come seeking redemption—only escape. Instead, he was captured by the very captain who should have executed him.

His past makes him dangerous. His magic makes him feared. And the mercy she never meant to give binds them both to choices that can’t be undone.

Hunted by the same powers that want them silenced, Azaria and Quinton are forced into a fragile alliance. They are too alike to trust each other—and too broken to ignore what’s growing between them. As the council’s conspiracy tightens and survival demands impossible sacrifices, standing together may be the only way they make it out alive.

Because some oaths are written in blood.
And some are worth breaking the world to keep.

Perfect for readers who love:

• Character-driven epic fantasy
• Found family dynamics
• Political intrigue and rising conspiracies
• Slow-burn, emotionally earned romance
• Morally complex heroes
• Multi-POV storytelling