The Tahaerin Chronicles Series by J. Ellen Ross

This title has been republished as An Oathbreaker's Vow.Leisha’s father, the king of Tahaerin, bartered away her childhood with his failed invasion of a neighboring kingdom. She grew up a hostage, a guarantee of the king’s good behavior. At sixteen, she returns to a land and a throne she knows almost nothing about. Her powerful and ruthless uncle plans to force her into a marriage or take her crown by violence... moreThis title has been republished as An Oathbreaker's Vow.Leisha’s father, the king of Tahaerin, bartered away her childhood with his failed invasion of a neighboring kingdom. She grew up a hostage, a guarantee of the king’s good behavior. At sixteen, she returns to a land and a throne she knows almost nothing about. Her powerful and ruthless uncle plans to force her into a marriage or take her crown by violence. The nobles of her kingdom all expect her to fail spectacularly and are eager to fight over the scraps. But, Leisha has no intention of going along quietly with any of their plans. As a boy, Zaraki watched as slavers butchered his family. Orphaned and starving, he was taken from the streets, trained to spy and kill. He finds a position with the new queen when he is forced to flee the only home he remembers. But the job is far larger than he anticipated and Leisha’s life is threatened from all sides.Leisha will fight to hold her crown and her throne with the help of an unknown and unproven spy. Zaraki will try keep her alive and to keep the oaths he took - to be loyal to her, to keep her secrets and never, ever fall in love with her. less

Two years have passed since the attempted coup that nearly cost queen Leisha of Tahaerin her crown, her lover, and her life. With her fractious and peevish nobles cowed into submission, she can finally enjoy the peace she has worked so hard to forge.But her peace is fragile and short-lived.Sailing over the horizon, the mysterious, vicious Deojrin appear on Tahaerin’s shores. They’ve brought with them an army of enslaved telepaths - soldiers who can kill without lifting a weapon... moreTwo years have passed since the attempted coup that nearly cost queen Leisha of Tahaerin her crown, her lover, and her life. With her fractious and peevish nobles cowed into submission, she can finally enjoy the peace she has worked so hard to forge.But her peace is fragile and short-lived.Sailing over the horizon, the mysterious, vicious Deojrin appear on Tahaerin’s shores. They’ve brought with them an army of enslaved telepaths - soldiers who can kill without lifting a weapon. The Deojrin know that Leisha can read minds and are determined to destroy her or claim her for their army. As her enemies close in, Leisha faces conflict on all sides. With her pitifully small army, the young queen must overcome her greatest fears or her enemies will drown her kingdom in blood. less

Leisha Tahaerin barely survived a war and a kidnapping by her former lover, Prince Lukas of Embriel. Now, with her kingdom’s invaders beaten back, she longs for peace. She and her husband, Zaraki, turn their eyes to rebuilding what the war destroyed. But when someone comes seeking bloody retribution for the murdered prince, everyone Leisha loves is in danger. Lilika grew up in Ostrava, a training ground for dangerous spies and deadly assassins... moreLeisha Tahaerin barely survived a war and a kidnapping by her former lover, Prince Lukas of Embriel. Now, with her kingdom’s invaders beaten back, she longs for peace. She and her husband, Zaraki, turn their eyes to rebuilding what the war destroyed. But when someone comes seeking bloody retribution for the murdered prince, everyone Leisha loves is in danger. Lilika grew up in Ostrava, a training ground for dangerous spies and deadly assassins. Nursed on tales of Zaraki’s betrayal of his one-time home, she gladly accepts a job to avenge Lukas’s death. What she discovers on her quest to kill a king will shatter everything she believes about herself and her past. And, Lilika isn’t the only assassin hunting Leisha and her loved ones. less