Counsel of the Wicked

They called him the Bastard. He was about to prove them right. Matthias, the bastard child of a fallen woman, has known nothing but judgment and hatred from the harsh, religious people of his enclave—except for Balthazar. The son and heir of the High Elder, Balthazar shows Matthias kindness, love, and desire, but when the High Elder discovers them, Matthias is arrested and sent to the School, a place of punishment and hidden horrors. There, Matthias learns the truth about his world, his heritage, his power—and love. Now, he must navigate a world of lies, cruelty, and forbidden desire to survive. But the real question is: Will he seek justice—or burn it all down? This is MM dark fantasy romance with enemies-to-lovers tension, religious hypocrisy, and a love that defies the world.