The Seasonal King: The Heart of the Cards

A thousand years ago, the King of Hearts was betrayed by the four rulers he trusted most. His heart was broken into four pieces, his kingdom was sealed away, and his people were left to survive inside a prison built from someone else’s lie. A millennium later, Knut has no interest in ancient kings. Known by a title taken from the sword he carries, Knut is the young High Commander of the most feared thieves in the Deep Woods. His power depends on reputation, and when that reputation is challenged, he accepts an impossible task: break into the abandoned Crystal Palace and steal proof that he made it inside. With the unexpected help of a god, Knut succeeds. But the greatest thing he brings back is not treasure. Hidden inside the palace is a mysterious old man with no name, no memories, and skin that seems to glow. Knut calls him Lumi and, against every instinct that has kept him alive, decides to protect him. What begins as an act of mercy soon threatens secrets buried for a thousand years. Because the King of Hearts may be gone, but his story is far from over.