In an empire of poison and lies, love is the one weakness an empress cannot afford. Taylan came to bring an empire down. Instead, she became the pawn that cleared her ex a path to a crown, buried the last of the people she loved, and woke to a wedding ring and a title that was never meant to be hers. Now she is married to the Emperor of Pendralia, the cold man she still means to kill, and her best friend Anya is his prisoner, the only leash strong enough to keep Taylan in line. She does have one weapon he cannot take. The Goddess of Death left her mark, and the magic in Taylan's blood can wake the dead. But a gift she can barely control is worthless when every enemy she needs gone is still breathing, and even striking at her husband would condemn Anya to die alongside him. She knows she has to stay away from Brevan, the enforcer she betrayed, the man she still wants more than her own revenge. But as his secrets rise to the surface, staying away becomes impossible, and what she feels for him could destroy them both. And Taylan has always been willing to burn it all down to watch this empire fall. Lace and Poison is the second book in the Vow of Death Trilogy, a dark, spicy, slow-burn romantasy of court intrigue, betrayal, and forbidden magic. Perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent and Danielle L. Jensen.