Songbird of the Sorrows - Braidee Otto

Princess Aella, once ousted from the Palace of Sorrows, was raised in The Aviary, a covert academy that trains orphaned children as spies for a secret intelligence network. Now twenty-three, she has completed her training and is summoned to join Alpha Flight, the elite team of assassins led by her former flame, Raven—a man whose bravery, loyalty, and danger stir old feelings. Bound by strict rules to obey, ask no questions, and love no one, Aella faces a mission that will test her loyalty and courage. She must infiltrate the rival kingdom of Eretria by assuming her former identity as Princess of the Sorrows to compete in the Prince’s bridal trials. As sparks reignite with Raven and the mission grows more perilous, Aella discovers the harsh realities of the realm and the stakes of deception. Torn between duty and desire, she must decide whether to follow orders or defy them to do what she believes is right. The story blends espionage, romance, and political intrigue as Aella navigates love, loyalty, and her reclaimed identity.