Bound by Shadows

<p><strong>Some vows burn. The worst ones learn to live in shadow.</strong></p><p>Three months after the Ledger Fire someone is forging <strong>Aurelia Ria Vale's</strong> signature onto new laws for the city-and making sure <strong>Cassian Rowe</strong> takes the blame. To stop a quiet takeover disguised as reform Ria and Cassian share a roof a plan and the kind of honesty that hurts before it heals. In a city that confuses control for care they'll bait the forger rewrite the rules and decide whether the house they built is a shelter...or a chain.</p><p><strong>What you'll get:</strong> enemies-to-only-you forced proximity knife-edge trust found family that doesn't flinch explicit boundary-setting and a possessive antihero who learns restraint the hard way.<br><strong>What you won't:</strong> sexual violence or dub-con.<br><strong>Heat:</strong> high always negotiated on-page.<br><strong>Read order:</strong> Book Four in the Bound Hearts series (Bound by Fire • The Ghost Between Us • Born from Ruin • <strong>Bound by Shadows</strong>). It can be read after a quick recap but it lands harder in order.</p><p><strong>Themes:</strong> devotion vs. control the cost of silence law as mercy instead of leverage.<br>When silence hardens into shadow do you belong to the house-or does the house belong to you?</p>