Series: Stardust Trilogy #1
Publication date: August 27th, 2026
Synopsis:
My twin sister was murdered. To find her killer, I had to die.
CATALINA
I was never supposed to exist.
As the mortal spare to an immortal sister, I lived in the shadows until Ry was murdered by a weapon that shouldn't exist.
Now, justice is all I want.
To find her killer, I must take her place in the Queen's Elite Cadre and become the very monster everyone fears.
But becoming a weapon means losing my humanity... and losing the one man I can't resist.
VALOREK
The immortals bleed my world dry while my sister rots from the inside out.
I swore to burn their reign to the ground, until I met her.
Sterling is the enemy, a silver-blooded soldier of the regime that destroyed my family.
But the electricity between us is undeniable.
We are on opposite sides of a brewing war, and falling for the enemy is a dangerous mistake neither of us can afford.
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The simulation brings me back with a jolt. I land on the floor on all fours, choking on the saltwater burning my throat. Like before, once my brain catches up with reality, all the pain goes away. I hang my head and breathe easy.
If that isn't a miserable attempt, I don't know what is. Ry passed this level on her first try. This military stuff came naturally to her. When we were kids, the placement test put Ry and me in the Military Sector, but I never belonged or excelled the way she did.
The sleek white walls shine bright around me. Seconds later, Captain Weston's boots come into view. When I glance up, he cocks an eyebrow at me with both hands braced on his hips. He blows out a breath, and I swear a tinge of pity flashes across his face.
"I didn't pass your test." I sit back on my ankles, shaking uncontrollably.
"Everyone dies in the simulation. You did better than I expected." He scratches the stubble on his chiseled jaw. "But I do have my work cut out for me."
"Am I in?" I meet his gaze.
"Have you talked to anyone since the accident?"
The accident? My jaw clenches.
"No." I assume he means cadets from my unit. To Captain Weston, Velorek and his friends didn't count.
"Good." He clears his throat. "Because I have a proposal for you."
When I open my mouth to speak, he brings his index finger to his lips and shakes his head once. Of course, he doesn't want to hear about how Ry's death wasn't an accident. We have been doing the same song and dance for weeks. This time, I do as he asks and keep quiet, but only because it looks like I am about to get what I want--an opportunity to join the Queen's immortal army, where I'll have the ability to look into Ry's murderer myself.
"You need something from me." I meet his gaze.
"We need you to take your sister's place as a lieutenant in the Queen's army. You still need a lot of training before you can join Ry's unit, but we have a bit of time."
"Wait. What?" I gape at him as my heart thrashes in my ears. "That is not what I wanted at all."
"I gave it some thought." He swallows. "It's all I can offer. It's the only solution, really."
"Do you have any idea how insane this sounds?" I scoff. "Ry told me everything about the QEC simulator seven years ago. This was the easy part and I still died. How am I supposed to be her when I know nothing about her world? She had her own life outside of me."
"That's why I'm here. I'll be your guide." His eyes soften.
"So what, Captain Weston? Do I now get to call you Cap or Eli?"
"You can call me whatever you want." He offers a crooked, sexy smile. "In fact, I think that if you call me Eli in private, the transition will be easier for you."
"Eli?" I meant to be sarcastic, but he is completely serious with his answer.
DIANA HICKS writes dark, emotional romance where obsession runs deep, secrets cut sharp, and love always comes at a price.
Her books blend steamy billionaire drama with forbidden marriages, high-stakes betrayal and antiheroes who will burn the world to protect what's theirs. Best known for The Empire Trilogy, Diana's stories deliver heart-pounding romance with morally gray men, strong heroines, and just enough heat to leave you breathless.
When she's not writing about power and passion colliding, she's probably sipping coffee like it's a love language, sweating off a plot twist at yoga, or posting angsty book teasers on TikTok.
