Rending Hearts: Guardians of Areli, Book 2

by Reed, Paige · 2026

Rending Hearts is the 3rd book in the award-winning Guardians of Areli romantasy series and is perfect for fans of Jaye L. Knight's Alliance Bride, Carrie Cotton's The Huntress, Karen Hancock's Legends of the Guardian King, Ronie Kendig's Abiassa's Fire, or Morgan Busse's Ravenwood Saga. A bride to choose. A kingdom to unite. A prophecy to fulfill. The guardians retreat to the North Ports, King Richard reels from betrayal, and the Seal of Authority remains dark. Areli has never been so vulnerable. Desperate to reignite the Seal, Prince Beniah turns to the forbidden words of his forefathers and secures the only teacher he trusts—Anne Devland. But as his woodland angel brings the lost story of their people to life, the light that flows from her warms his soul, rekindling the wonder he felt on Emmanuel’s Eve and making him yearn for a future he can never have. Anne’s time with the prince is fleeting. She knows she can’t keep him. Yet her heart refuses to listen. Denying her growing attachment, she focuses on finding the solution Areli desperately needs, diving deeper into the instructions of Micah. But the answers she discovers prove more distressing than no answer at all. Violet Devland takes her place as a contestant in the Bride Trials.