Broken Souls and Bones by L.J. Andrews

Broken Souls and Bones by L.J. AndrewsLyra Bien intended to live a quiet life to avoid the attention of the magic obsessed king in the fortress of Stonegate. Until Roark Ashwoodthe princes silent guard and rumored killer for the crowninvades her village and uncovers the truth behind the silver scars in her eyes. To save her best friend from death, shes forced to reveal her abilities, and is immediately claimed by the crown as the next melder. To be the Kings melder is to be revered and

Sylvester’s riot of black curls and perfectly etched cheekbones caught her eye a moment too long

mysteriously disappeared

Elena Rousseau walks into a gentlemen’s club

and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage

Someone convinced him once that his best wasn’t good enough

Briony and the other survivors are quickly auctioned off to the highest bidders in an auction – and as the heir-apparent’s sister

Not while he's bound to the farm

giving up a life underwater in exchange for the love of Prince Aerik on land

in exchange for Xích Si's technical fluency: a business arrangement with nothing more to it

her rotting

I surprised her

she thought it was all a game