Don't Die, You Owe Me Money

Mirena Vodya, the underworld's most ruthlessly efficient artifact thief, has one last job: settle her dying mentor's colossal debt. The target is the 'Heart of Withering,' a relic hidden in the blighted castle of the monstrous Prince Alarek, whose cursed touch kills all life. Posing as a sacrificial bride, Mirena finds not a mindless beast but a surprisingly witty, long-suffering man trapped in a horrifying form. Their sharp-tongued banter slowly blossoms into a reluctant bond, making her mission to betray him increasingly difficult. But the castle holds more secrets than treasure. A shocking discovery reveals that the 'monster' is a stand-in, the curse is a clever political fabrication, and the real Prince Alarek is his perfectly handsome, infuriatingly cheerful twin, living a life of luxury. The 'curse' can only be broken by a 'sacrifice,' and suddenly Mirena is caught between the man she’s growing to care for, the prince who holds the key to her freedom, and a rival suitor determined to expose everyone. With her mentor's life on the line, can Mirena untangle this royal mess before she loses her target, her heart, and her head?