When the sins of the past demand payment, his magic is the price.

Blaise Hawthorne never wanted to hurt anyone, and he certainly didn't want to become a weapon. When using his dangerous magic to free his outlaw friends destroys an enemy fortress, the young mage is imprisoned for his crimes. Abused and at the mercy of his tormenters, Blaise's only ally is a duplicitous man he's not sure he can trust.

After escaping his cruel upbringing, politician Malcolm Wells had everything--or so he thought. He didn't count on falling for Breaker Blaise Hawthorne. And it's all his fault that Blaise has been captured as a war criminal. The Breaker is running out of time, and Malcolm's money, power, and influence have proven useless to win his freedom.

When a magic-slinging outlaw storms into town, Malcolm seizes the opportunity to form an uneasy alliance. The pair hatch a bold gambit to free Blaise, but their enemy is one step ahead. At the mercy of Malcolm's dark past, everything they fought for unravels. All the magic in the world may not be enough to save any of them from the nightmare to come.

This gritty, uplifting fantasy is the second book in the Tales of the Outlaw Mages series, set in an Old West-inspired world. If you enjoy found family, LGBTQ+ representation, baked goods, and a whole lot of heart, then look no further. Get caught in the spell of Effigest today!