170,328 Words

She’s an assassin defined by her failure. He’s a king hiding behind a mask of debauchery. When an ancient curse binds enemies together, will their hearts ignite or destroy the world? Nira has spent centuries proving her worth. Born without magic in a realm that worships power, the elite Fire Fae assassin survives by completing impossible missions for a ruthless Order. She has honed herself into a lethal weapon to bury her broken past. Desperate to rescue her enslaved brother, she accepts a perilous mission that leads her straight into the territory of her people’s sworn enemy... and into the path of the dragon king she is trained to kill. Failure will cost her everything. King Zane plays the part of a carefree wastrel to mask a tragic history. Bound by a lethal curse that forces him into unwanted marriages and inevitable loss, he wants nothing to do with the Fire Fae who destroyed his world. But this Dragon King has mastered the art of loopholes to avoid his fate. Until a dangerous mission traps him in the shadows the one woman he cannot have: a fierce assassin who refuses to bow to destiny. Resisting her becomes far more perilous than any prophecy. As enemies close in and betrayal festers on every side, Nira and Zane are forced into a fragile alliance that burns with forbidden attraction. With an ancient power rising and a prophecy that may demand Nira’s life, choosing love could mean unleashing devastation across the realms. Can two sworn enemies defy curses, betrayal, and destiny to claim a future together? A Curse of Spikes & Smoke is a passionate standalone story in the Brides of the Dragon Kings fantasy romance series. If you love fierce heroines, forced proximity, and slow-burn enemies to lovers, then you’ll fall for S.D. Huston’s emotionally rich fantasy world.