The Dread Descendant

Maeve Sinclair is a witch with a rare gift: she can jump into other people's minds. Her kind has lived in secret on Earth for generations. They wait for a prophesied figure called the Dread Descendant, a Prince of Darkness who is meant to lead them back to the ancient realm they came from.

Human wars are pushing magic toward extinction. Maeve enrolls at the most prestigious magical academy in the world, and there she forms an unexpected bond with Malachite Peur. Their friendship grows slowly into a romance.

The cost of that closeness sits at the center of the book. Maeve has to decide how much power, and how much of her own freedom, she will surrender to protect the people and the magic she loves.

This is a dark fantasy romance with a slow-burn relationship and an academy setting. Prophecy, hidden magic and loyalties that carry moral weight drive the plot. The tone is dark rather than light, and the romance develops over time instead of arriving at once.

It is the first book in the Dread Descendant series, a planned trilogy that continues with The Dread Prince and The Dread King.