Reign & Ruin (2020)

Naime needs political allies, not a man who will take over her decisions; Makram's feared magic makes partnership both promising and dangerous. Evans lets attraction grow through negotiations, respect for competence and competing responsibilities. The elemental system is part of the political problem, giving their compatibility something substantial to work against. This is adult romance with on-page intimacy: their relationship has an arc here, while Mages of the Wheel carries the larger conflict forward.