Nine years have passed since their first kiss, and fate has waited long enough.Verbena Bay has built a successful life on her own terms as a talented realtor, powerful house witch, and alchemist. But despite her magical abilities, she's been keeping her soulmate at a distance with the help of morally ambigious spell work. But when fate intervenes, her carefully controlled world unravels fast. Now, a violent ghost is after her, a family of witches and warlocks is hunting the Bay sisters, and Verbena must face her past mistakes if she hopes to survive.Luke Karnes has always sought sanctuary on Star Island, far from the painful memories of his past. He's rebuilt his life and hoped that one day, it would include Verbena. But when she confesses years of deception, forgiveness feels impossible. Just when things seem at their darkest, Luke's foster brother arrives, and with him, the voice of their long-dead guardian, pulling Luke deeper into the world of magic-and toward an unexpected future with Verbena.With deep scars and tangled emotions between them, Verbena and Luke must rely on each other to survive the growing threats from ghosts, warlocks, and dark secrets that refuse to stay buried.In this high-stakes paranormal romance, love, betrayal, and powerful magic collide, leaving them with no choice but to face their fates together.