Turn of the Hourglass

Soleil Marson is a Khashtani - a secret bodyguard for one of the eight potential heirs of Isaaria, Crown Prince Rian Yakarami. The Laughing Prince. Every twenty-five years, Isaaria entrusts one of their royal families to prophesy who should next inherit the kingdom to ensure an era of peace, and Soleil is one of the few who knows Rian meant to take the throne. However, with assassins and foreign threats at every turn, Soleil has been instructed to keep Rian from inheriting the crown and to keep him happy, and ignorant, far from the dangers of the political world.

But Rian is no puppet, and there's a certain cleverness hiding behind the Laughing Prince's fa ade. With war erupting in the countries to the west, and petty nobles playing the game of politics with fierce abandon, Soleil will have to decide whether to deny Rian his inheritance--which will ensure his safety but keep from Isaaria its next true king--or allow him to take the crown--which may save their country at the cost of ending his life.