Throne of Ice and Blood by Marion Blackwood

Selena wakes three days after being enslaved by Jessinia and Bane, the ice rulers of the Seelie Court. Disoriented and panicked by the iron collar around her neck, she’s told by Draven not to panic—that the first drain of magic is the worst. The two argue, but Draven promises not to take from her again and leaves to fetch food. Seeing a chance, Selena flees—only to stumble over a dead body. When guards arrive, they assume she’s the killer and throw her into a cell.

Draven retrieves her, and they’re summoned to Jessinia and Bane. Surprised that Selena has recovered so quickly, the rulers order Draven to drain her again—other draws, Isera and Alistair, are still recovering. Draven agrees, but the rulers are more concerned about recent murders in the palace. Three victims, killed by the Red Hand—a human rebel. Jessinia is furious; Draven had promised the Red Hand was dealt with. He’s ordered to find the rebel alive. Selena quietly vows to make sure he never does.

Back in their rooms, Draven removes her collar, saying he hates seeing it on her. She doesn’t have to wear it in private, but she must outside. He gives her a cape to cover it just in case.

While Draven hunts the Red Hand, Selena escapes through the window and flees to a nearby human town. There, she finds the humans as oppressed as the fae. She intervenes when a guard attacks a human, sparking a chase. She breaks into a house, and a man hides her—until he discovers what she is. He locks her in the basement, intending to turn her over to Draven. Before he can, his daughter—part of the resistance—frees Selena and introduces her to the rebels. They ask her to return to the palace as their inside contact. Though reluctant, she agrees.

Later, Draven brings her to his clan. The atmosphere is warm and familial—until Draven enters. Everyone turns cold, especially his former friend, Galen. Draven announces they’re hunting the Red Hand again. Galen suggests joining the rebel instead. Draven leaves before tensions boil over.

Days pass. Selena sneaks around the palace but is eventually caught by Draven. Furious, he shows her what “broken” means: Alistair and Isera are chained, half-naked, blindfolded, and kneeling beside the emperor and empress. This is what’s expected of him to do to her. Back in their room, he tells her she can hate him, but outside, she must act broken—or she’ll end up like them.

The next day, Selena escapes again—this time to find Alistair and Isera. She finds them in terrible condition, especially Isera, who’s catatonic. A third fae, Lavendera—once a trial contestant—has also been taken for her power. Selena promises Alistair that she’s with the rebellion and will get them out.

When she returns, Draven is waiting. Furious, he declares that from now on, she must accompany him everywhere.

Weeks pass under this punishment. The worst moment comes at a banquet—Selena must act fully submissive. Draven humiliates her, making her crawl, bow, and lick his boot. Back in their room, she explodes at him. In response, he kneels to her and kisses her. The moment builds—until they’re interrupted. Another murder—by the Red Hand.

Investigating the body, Selena realizes she knew the victim’s killer: a man named Hector. He’s using climbing gear to pull off his kills. Pressure on Draven intensifies. Meanwhile, Selena visits pubs, using her magic to stir rebellion and hope among the people.

Though forced to trail Draven everywhere, Selena gathers intel. The rebellion contacts her—they don’t control the Red Hand, but they’re planning a heist on the treasury. Selena also hatches a plan to free Alistair, Isera, and Lavendera. She finds a fae spy from the thriving Unseelie Court to help.

One night in a bar, soldiers recognize Selena and move to kill her. Draven appears, slaughtering them. She demands to know how he always finds her. He finally confesses: they’re mates. Selena feels betrayed—she thought he cared for her, not because of fate.

The next morning, before they can talk further, word comes: the Red Hand’s been spotted. Draven flies them to the location, but it’s a trap. They’re attacked by another clan. Jessinia and Bane arrive—not to help, but to punish Draven. They whip his wings to shred - which they apprently have been doing for years.

As Draven heals over the next week, Selena uses her magic to ease his pain. She also finalizes the heist plan and enlists the three imprisoned fae. Yet as the mission nears, she feels conflicted—she no longer sees Draven as the enemy, and her feelings for him grow.

It’s the night of the ball—the night the human rebels plan to steal from the treasury, and the night Selena will escape with Alistair, Isera, and Lavendera. But the plan quickly unravels.

Isera mentions that Bane knew something was going on and captured the humans. When Selena goes to investigate, she finds the rebels being rounded up—by Lavendera. Lavendera reveals she’s been working for the Icehearts all along, not the fae.

Then Selena spots someone she believes to be Hector, masked as the Red Hand, killing without mercy. But suddenly, she realizes—it’s not Hector. It’s Draven.

Draven is the Red Hand.

He slaughters several of his own men, and with his identity now exposed, he grabs Selena and they flee the castle. As they fly, Draven confesses that he’s worked for the fae rebellion and has been watching Selena for years, believing she deserved a far greater role in the cause, though she was never given it.

Draven takes her to his court, where Selena reveals his secret—Draven is the Red Hand. His clan is stunned.

Then Selena notices something odd. Draven hasn’t been able to answer certain questions. Piecing it together with the clan, they realize the Icehearts implanted dragonsteel inside him to control him. Without hesitation, Selena cuts open his arm and rips the dragonsteel out.

Finally, Draven can speak freely.

He reveals everything: the Icehearts made him commit terrible acts centuries ago. They whipped him for six years, breaking him, all to protect his clan.

With the truth out, Draven rallies his people. They take to the skies, ready to fight.

As Selena rides Draven—becoming the first fae to ride a dragon in centuries—she uses her emotional magic from afar, influencing the human rebels to storm the castle and join the fight. And they do.

Meanwhile, Jessinia hurls ice shards through the air. One strikes Selena.

The shard hits hard—so hard that she can no longer feel pain. Worse, she can’t feel anything below her waist.

As she tries to tell Draven, she slips off his back mid-flight—and blacks out.