Blood and Thorns

She never wanted to be Queen, but she will take her throne amidst blood and thorns. 

Catherine sacrificed it all, her power and the man she loved. But severing her connection to magic has had disastrous effects. Thorny, bark-like growths are spreading across her body and if they continue, she will turn into a tree. Multiple attempts to get it back have all failed. That's when Catherines makes a terrible bargain with one of the first fae. In exchange for her magic and to save her life, she must give up love.

Ray died for her, and she cannot imagine loving again and so she accepts the deal. Only after losing it all was Catherine able to embrace her role as heir to the Thorn Kingdom. She plans to claim her title, but she's not without opposition. Her father's people thought she was dead, and others have ambitions for the throne themselves. She must make strategic alliances to become queen and keep her promise to the ancient to hold her curse at bay. But when she is reunited with Ray, her convictions are shaken.

Ray is as good as dead. He was ready to die for Catherine but the Twilight Queen's intervention thwarted his noble act and bound him to her. In exchange for a life saved, he must do her bidding. He's comforted by the fact that Catherine is outside Faery's reach, without power and hidden from their sight. He does the Twilight Queen's bidding, aiding her as she schemes her way onto the Thornwood Throne. Then Catherine appears in Faery and he's given a new assignment: kill Catherine.