Land of Wind and Salt — M.J. Padgett

There is no love lost between a Lachlian and a Varant… Kestrel Lachlian's life is on the line all because she couldn't mind her own business. When Prince Isaac De Valanove pays a visit to Demacia, the pirating village of Vivaine, Kestrel finds herself in a precarious position. With the prince's blade to her enemy's throat, Kestrel should be pleased, but instead, she finds herself in a prison cart headed for the executioners block. Her charge? Murdering the prince to save Rosen Varant's life. Rosen Varant knows a thing or two about filthy Lachlians, but never expected his most hated enemy's daughter to rush to his defense, let alone kill the wicked Queen Matrisse's son. Her actions set in motion a chain of events that lead to the utter destruction of the whole village—including her family and his. Despite the blood on her hands, he owes her a debt and won't go back on his code. A daring rescue and narrow escape lead them to an uninhabited island where they discover there isn't much left to feud over, and combining their resources might be the best way to free their land from the evil queen's clutches once and for all. Challenging the queen in a rights contest for the crown is a death sentence, but one Kestrel is willing to accept in the name of revenge—even if she is ill-prepared for the games she must face to do so. Rosen isn't keen on losing the one person who seems to know his true heart, but controlling a Lachlian is almost as difficult as trusting one. Kestrel's half-cocked plan will get her killed, and he's the bloody fool willing to follow her right into the grave… unless she succeeds, leaving him wondering where he'll stand once that crown is upon his enemy's head. But are they still enemies, or is there more behind all that banter, fighting, and threatening?