I slaughtered my way to peace once already. Hopefully this time it'll take.

After saving my school, my nation, and arguably the world, all I wanted was a quiet summer at my new manor with some special witches. Instead, my stolen romance novel is a bestseller, a political party won't stop courting me, and the answers I need about a long-dead professor's research are locked away in Glustenbruga city split down the middle by the most heavily fortified border on the planet.

In this place, some might say the last war never really ended.

Getting in legally seems impossible, at least until Anita Kane, Caldia's most famous silver screen starlet, offers me a deal: she gets to star in the film adaptation of my book, and I have to play her doting lover for the tabloids, but in return, I get the access I need. Now I'm juggling another fake romance, a film shoot swarming with paparazzi, and spies from at least three different organizations watching my every move.

And that's just the beginning.

The deeper I dig, the clearer it becomes: the war that consumed my life was built on a lie, and the people behind it will do anything to keep it buried. But I'm through being anyone's weapon, puppet, or poster boy. With my blood magic and my brilliant and terrifying witches, I'm going to drag the truth into the light.

I didn't start any war, but this time, I'm going to be the one to end one for good.