Roots in Ink

Belhaven Island is full of buried secrets. As an Amoran scribe, Sara Cortese observed a world where magic was woven into the fabric of the community. But four centuries later, an authoritarian government is in power, magic is outlawed, and the country's history has been rewritten. And in the dark corners of Belhaven's museum basement, Emma DiMarco discovers a collection of Sara's diaries. Like the magic of her Amoran ancestors, defiance runs through Emma's veins, and she takes on the treacherous risk of preserving the only surviving record of Belhaven's authentic history. Emma isn't the only one with dangerous secrets. Liam Doran, the museum's new caretaker, covertly embraces his untrained Amoran magic his family has denied for generations. Liam is rebuilding the property's natural habitat despite the risk drawing attention to his family's magical past. Lust at first sight leads to a promise to keep it casual, but Emma and Liam are unable to fight the inexorable pull of their magic destined to bind them together. When a mysterious illness strips Liam of his humanity and threatens his life, Emma connects it to events penned in Sara's diaries. Emma must decide if embracing her heritage and using magic to save Liam is worth risking her freedom and her life. contemporary fantasy; modern fantasy; urban fantasy; dystopian; workplace romance; friends with benefits; demon possession; elemental magic; banned magic; secret magic; dual timelines; sapphic romance; earth magic; familiars; open door; later in life; midlife romance; over 35; bi men; bi women; bisexual romance; middle-aged