Mary spends over a decade feigning muteness to conceal her lethal incantation magic from superstitious villagers. When her treacherous family brands her an outcast and sells her to the royal court, she finds herself bound to the comatose Prince Augustus as a sacrificial bride. Expected to perish while breaking his ancient slumber curse, Mary speaks a forbidden chant that snaps the fearsome warlord back to life.
Instead of executing her for sorcery, Augustus shields his reluctant new bride from cutthroat courtiers and rival assassins scheming to seize the throne. As imperial war looms, a monstrous dragon stalks the palace shadows to feast on Mary's vocal gifts. Mary must master her perilous voice alongside her lethal protector before ancient beasts and envious monarchs reduce the empire to ashes.
