Order of the Chimera

Seere Cross wears a crown, but the weight of her true identity is heavier than any throne. As queen of the Domain of Assassins, she has spent years guarding her secrets-until headmaster Orias Roderick storms her citadel with a blackmail offer she can't refuse. Forced to protect Prince Felix of Noctivagus-the man she was once betrothed to-or have her identity revealed to her greatest enemy, her sister, she must abandon her kingdom for Malphas University, where nobles study, and an ancient threat is on the rise. The Order of the Chimera seeks to take control of the continent of Aevrath, and Seere may be the only one who can stop them.

But secrets are dangerous, and hers aren't the only ones at risk. With her sister among the university's elite, Felix stirring up old feelings, and Orias-infuriating yet impossible to ignore-sees the parts of her she's buried deepest. Staying hidden grows treacherous. Torn between the ghosts of her past and a future she never planned, Seere must decide: protect the life she built or embrace the fate that could destroy her.

Perfect for fans of dark academia, morally gray characters, and deadly intrigue, Order of the Chimera will pull you into a world of secrets, sacrifice, and the price of power.

Layla King is a small-business owner and lifelong storyteller who sets out to write D&D campaigns-but somehow always ends up with novels instead. Raised with a heart full of magic and imagination, she never quite outgrew the belief that the world is full of wonder. These days, she lives in Idaho with her husband and their two cats. When she's not lost in book ideas, she's probably blasting Sleep Token loud enough for the neighbors to wonder what kind of wizard lives next door.