A queen destined for magic. A king cursed by love. A fate no one could outrun. Before Selene, there was Roxilana. Discover her darkly delicious origin story in this prequel to Bewitched, a complete standalone from TikTok sensation Laura Thalassa. He called her queen-then turned her world to ash. Two thousand years before the rise of Henbane Coven, Roxilana was just a Roman girl trying to survive the shadows of empire. Until the day a voice begins speaking inside her head. That voice belongs to Memnon, King of the Sarmatians-a warrior touched by gods, cursed by fate, and utterly convinced that Roxilana is his soul mate. When Roxilana's latent powers awaken, Memnon appears at her door with a crown in one hand and destiny in the other. Before she knows it, she's swept away to a strange new land and named queen of a people she barely understands…and wife to a man whose love is as intense as it is terrifying. Magic always demands a price. And as Roxilana learns the true cost of Memnon's power, passion, and prophecy, she must decide whether to build an empire beside her cursed king…or burn it to the ground. Tropes to love: Fated mates Telepathic bond Historical fantasy Morally gray love interest Magic with a price Deadly power couple Doomed love (or is it?) Perfect for fans of: The Hades X Persephone saga by Scarlett St. Clair The Bridge Kingdom series by Danielle L. Jensen The Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy The Crowns of Nyaxia series by Clarissa Broadbent