The Rose and the Guardian by Nicole A. Sterling
“Let them fear the girl who was raised to be silent—because when she learns to speak, she’ll teach the world to burn.”
—Eyleen Arsa
What if Éva didn’t choose Ádám, but the Wolf?
Taken beyond the village walls by men who feared her power, Noël Ársa was meant to die. Instead, she lands in the arms of a beast.
Theron is a vólkin, a wolflike warrior with ancient blood in his veins, sacred law in his bones, and one name carved into his soul.
He claims she’s his mate, Noël says he’s delusional, and she didn’t escape one cage just to fall into another.
But fate has other plans for her.
As the forest whispers secrets of goddesses and a war long buried, Noël must rise not as a queen but as Lidéřen, the leader promised in a centuries-old prophecy.
And Theron would burn the world to keep her standing in her crown of blue roses and thorns.
This time, the daughters of Éva will not be silenced.
Table of Contents
Half Title
Vathéria Map
The Rose and the Guardian
Copyright
Dedication
Content Warnings
Contents
Epigraph
Prologue
1. The Void Left Behind
2. Tears, Ale, and Blood
3. The Edge of Night
4. A Path Written in Prophecy
5. Roots of Grief, Seeds of Strength
6. Through the Forest, Into Fate
7. A Kneel, A Growl, and A Choice
8. A Promise in the Petals
9. A Vow in the Mist
10. Guardian of Her Grief
11. Between the Stream and the Spear
12. The soul’s first law
13. The Haunting Silence
14. The Wrath of the Vólkin
15. The Weight of the Oath
16. The Call of Fate, The Weight of loss
17. Guarding the Dove
18. A Deal in the Darkness
19. A New Road, A Heavy Cross
20. A House for Two, A Storm Within
21. A braid of three
22. A Restless Mind
23. Taming the Wild Heart
24. Beneath the Heavy Crown
25. A Garden of Blue Roses
26. The Feast of Roses and Fire
27. Dancing with Fire and Roses
28. Claws, Crystals, and Chicken Feet
29. Bound by Blood
30. The hall of hands and Paws
31. Six Will Rise Under The Crescent’s Watch
32. Flesh and Fur
33. Through the Pain of the Past
34. A Broken Soldier
35. A Guardian’s Shield and a Leader’s Command
36. Where Roses Bloom
37. The leader who never was
38. The Echoes of the Fallen and the Strength to Rise Again
39. The Night of One Final Farewell
40. The Warriors’ First Test
41. Between Life and Death in the Lair of Beasts
42. Amidst the Trials
43. The Tsar’s Court of fear
44. The volkins, the nýmphá, and the Lies of a Puppet
45. Under the Veil of Judgment
46. Chains of Distrust
47. The Outsider's Eyes
48. The rose at hand and The Bloom of Doubt
49. A House of Secrets
50. Maminka, systritsy, and Bratya
51. Awaiting Nightfall
52. A Cup of Bitter Choice
53. The Night the Blue Rose Claimed Her Throne
54. The Sealed Bond
55. Slick Floors and Volkin Roars
56. From the Soil They Rise
57. At the Gates of Borodyn
58. One Village Claimed, A Thousand More to Save
59. Old Songs of Elders
60. Flowers Bloom In Ash
61. The Tsar’s Failed Creations
62. The Harvest of Broken Souls
63. Ashes, Chains, and a Lifeless Crown
64. The Blue Rose Crowned by Blood and Fire
The Crowned Rose
Epilogue
Nýmphí
Blue Roses
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Nicole A. Sterling
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