A ghost bound by duty. A shaman fleeing his own kind. A wardkeeper who will sacrifice everything.

On Yuletide Eve, when the rest of the world gathers around warm hearths and family, Wardkeeper Elara Millwright stands alone at the Cavern of the Well, guardian of an ancient evil that has waited five centuries for its chance to poison the world. Tonight, as winter’s longest night falls across the Simmaron Woods, the protective wards begin to fail.

When a wounded goblin shaman staggers out of the storm, and the ghost of a patroller dead for centuries rises, Elara must set aside everything she’s been taught and forge an alliance that will demand more than she ever imagined giving.

Crossing miles of frozen, corrupted forest while a relentless hunter tracks their every step is only the beginning. The hours until dawn are counting down. The ancient corruption stirs. And the only hope for survival lies in remembering traditions long forgotten.

Perfect for readers who love fantasy adventures with unlikely alliances, ancient magic, and heroes who must trust their enemies to survive.