The Anrodnes Chronicles Series by J.C. Owens

Alone behind the mask, only his Chosen could touch him. Raine held no hope for his future. Youngest in a line of brutal, warlike brothers, he is judged to be weak and worthy only to be sold off for political gain. Now the worst of his brothers is taking him to the heart of the empire that has conquered their homeland. Taldan, the Imperial Heir of Anrodnes, is holding a traditional choosing of a companion, a Chosen, for when he ascends to become emperor... moreAlone behind the mask, only his Chosen could touch him. Raine held no hope for his future. Youngest in a line of brutal, warlike brothers, he is judged to be weak and worthy only to be sold off for political gain. Now the worst of his brothers is taking him to the heart of the empire that has conquered their homeland. Taldan, the Imperial Heir of Anrodnes, is holding a traditional choosing of a companion, a Chosen, for when he ascends to become emperor. Forced into the competition for the title, Raine finds himself in a different world, one of culture and science, so different than his cruel home. Even though he feels immediate attraction to the cold, logical, and powerful Taldan, Raine knows he has no hope of winning a place at the prince's side. How can he compete against the other candidates or compare to Hredeen, the mysterious leader of the imperial harem, a gorgeous man of otherworldly grace who is far more than he seems? But if Raine fails to win Taldan's heart, his brother has a dreadful punishment waiting, one he's eager to inflict. Prince Taldan views the ceremony of the Chosen as nothing more than an annoyance. He will ascend to emperor, don the metal mask, and be granted the powerful magic of his ancestors. After that, he can finally return to his studies and experiments to better the lives of his people. He sets his younger brother and best friend to helping sort through the mass of candidates for his Chosen, seeing the ceremony as a foolish tradition to endure. But when chance leads to him saving a young man named Raine from the violence of Raine's cruel brother, events are set in motion that will rock the empire to its foundations. Taldan knows the emperor must be emotionless and logical, even cold, but Raine stirs feelings and heat in him that he is not prepared for. Now there are ominous rumors of war on the horizon and the threat of betrayals and assassins in the court, and Taldan discovers Raine is right in the middle of it all... The first book of a new epic M/M fantasy romance trilogy from J. C. Owens! less

An assassin, an emperor, and his Chosen. Will their bonds survive intrigue, exile, and war...? Exiled by the emperor he loves, Hredeen Leesian chooses to travel to the once-peaceful kingdom of Bhantan to stop a brutal invasion. Armed with only a blade and his skills as an assassin, he means to stop Raine's cruel brothers from killing and looting their way across the kingdom. But as Hredeen hunts his prey, he discovers another assassin who knows the darkest secrets of their guild... moreAn assassin, an emperor, and his Chosen. Will their bonds survive intrigue, exile, and war...? Exiled by the emperor he loves, Hredeen Leesian chooses to travel to the once-peaceful kingdom of Bhantan to stop a brutal invasion. Armed with only a blade and his skills as an assassin, he means to stop Raine's cruel brothers from killing and looting their way across the kingdom. But as Hredeen hunts his prey, he discovers another assassin who knows the darkest secrets of their guild. Now Hredeen fears he cannot return to the secretive fortress where he was trained in the killing arts. His world has been shattered by Taldan's rejection, and he no longer has a home at the imperial capital...or in Taldan's heart. Taldan Anrodnes has ascended to emperor, and the magic of the Illumitae has merged with his body and mind. After nearly being killed in a vicious attack, Taldan has begun forging a deeper bond with Raine, the young man who saved his life by becoming his Chosen. Taldan might now be one of the most powerful men in the world, but he's haunted by memories of Hredeen. He can't forget the look on Hredeen's face when he cast his friend and lover out for his deception. The assassin betrayed his trust, lied to him, and—like Raine—saved his life. Now, beneath the weight of the emperor's golden mask, he wrestles with his growing power and the threats against his empire, his life, and his sanity. Raine Yoldis is now bound as Chosen to the brilliant man he has always admired. But he struggles to find his own path as Chosen, especially when Hredeen's shadow lies so heavily over Taldan. He can't escape the fear that he isn't needed and will be pushed aside even as the Illumitae's magic changes them both in unforeseen ways. The gods might have chosen him to be with Taldan, but can he win the man's love, especially when the emperor's growing obsession could tear everything to pieces? Meanwhile, Prince Zaran leads the Anrodnes army in a desperate pursuit of the rebel invaders, shocked by the destruction they have left in their path. As the rebels advance, diplomat Isnay undertakes a vital mission to bring aid to Bhantan—only the young, fiery king is like no noble he has ever met. Inside the empire, Naral struggles to uncover a new plot against his emperor with the help of a brash thief, and the War Guild waits in the wings, its motives unclear, yet a growing threat to the very existence of the empire... less

Can a deadly assassin hold on to a love he thought lost...?Hredeen has been exiled from his emperor's side, the only place he had found a home, friendship...love. Now after changing the course of the invasion of Bhantan, he faces an uncertain future. Unable to return to Anrodnes, he faces years of torture and isolation as his masters in the War Guild eradicate every precious memory he held of his former life with Emperor Taldan... moreCan a deadly assassin hold on to a love he thought lost...?Hredeen has been exiled from his emperor's side, the only place he had found a home, friendship...love. Now after changing the course of the invasion of Bhantan, he faces an uncertain future. Unable to return to Anrodnes, he faces years of torture and isolation as his masters in the War Guild eradicate every precious memory he held of his former life with Emperor Taldan. But after meeting a rogue assassin, one who escaped from the War Guild itself, Hredeen has to make a choice. Respond to a summons by the War Guild for brutal retraining. Or take vital information back to Anrodnes, back where Emperor Taldan and Raine wait. The man he loves...and the man who is Taldan's true Chosen...Raine has done everything he can to be a good Chosen for the emperor, but he fears it is not enough. He longs for Taldan's love, yet he worries that what Taldan and Hredeen had together is deeper and more powerful than he could ever offer. Taldan is consumed by Hredeen's loss, his behavior sliding into something on the edge of darkness. Is it the magic of the Illumitae...or something even more dangerous? And what can Raine do to stop it?The loss of Hredeen leaves a hole within Taldan's heart, even though he was the one to exile the assassin. Yet he is beginning to love Raine, his Chosen, and attempts to put his entire energy into solidifying their bond. But with conspiracies, assassination threats, and unrest spreading across the lands, even that bond will be put to the test. The Illumitae holds secrets, and some of them may destroy everything he cherishes. Once, Taldan prided himself on his emotionless, logical detachment and the power of his mind. But now, the chaos within his heart is surging, and neither Raine nor Hredeen may be safe...Reader note: The Anrodnes Chronicles is a four-book epic M/M Fantasy Romance series from J. C. Owens! less

The triad will become legend again—or fall into darkness forever.Emperor Taldan Anrodnes faces his darkest days. Assassins from the War Guild nearly killed him, leaving his brother wounded. War has begun, shattering the peace of the empire and threatening everything Taldan has worked so hard to create. First Emperor Sladeran's influence through the Illumitae is growing within him. Taldan struggles to keep Sladeran's jealousy and madness under control and stay true to himself...and to his Chosen... moreThe triad will become legend again—or fall into darkness forever.Emperor Taldan Anrodnes faces his darkest days. Assassins from the War Guild nearly killed him, leaving his brother wounded. War has begun, shattering the peace of the empire and threatening everything Taldan has worked so hard to create. First Emperor Sladeran's influence through the Illumitae is growing within him. Taldan struggles to keep Sladeran's jealousy and madness under control and stay true to himself...and to his Chosen. When an oracle from the War Guild arrives at the capital city, the stakes finally become clear. The assassins are tampering with powerful forces—the crystals that forged the Illumitae—and now threaten not only the empire but the entire realm.Raine's heart breaks as Taldan's struggle to save the empire and control the Illumitae tears him apart and drives wedges between the three of them. He fears his meager talents are not enough to truly help Taldan, the man he desperately loves. Raine must find a way to keep the triad bound together against all odds. Only by keeping their hearts together can they hope to stand against the War Guild and the corruption of the crystals.Hredeen had no choice when he was made a Chosen and brought into the triad, but he loves Taldan, and Raine is as dear as a brother to him. Yet, he chafes against Taldan's growing possessiveness, fearing the madness of Sladeran is growing stronger inside his beloved. But there are secrets in Hredeen's blood, and that blood will play a role in the future of the empire. The three of them must throw aside tradition and become something the empire has not seen since its earliest days—a true triad powerful enough to bring salvation...or destruction.The final book of the Anrodnes Chronicles! less