Without Illusions
She never meant to fall for the man she deceived.
Princess Julie has a daring plan to break Redwood Trading Company's iron grip on commerce: masquerade as a merchant while building her own rival trading route.
No one can discover her true identity.
Master runesmith Alex Kraft seeks only to practice his craft in peace. His exceptional runic talents have made him a target of Redwood's manipulation. Their promises of wealth mean nothing compared to his desire for independence.
Their paths collide when Julie recruits Alex for her ambitious venture. Through illusions, multiple identities, she keeps her royal status hidden while growing closer to the compelling craftsman. The attraction between them becomes impossible to deny.
Then Redwood strikes. Their saboteurs threaten to destroy everything Julie has built. She must choose between revealing her deceptions to Alex or losing both her trade route and the man she loves.
In a world of merchant caravans, magical runes, wielded power lies in commerce rather than combat.
Julie's gambit could free her kingdom from Redwood's suffocating control—or cost her everything she holds dear.
Will Julie's web of illusions protect those she loves, or will Redwood's sabotage tear apart both her trade route and her chance at true love? When deception meets desire, which will prove stronger?
