Whispers of Heresy: A Saint's Reckoning (Chronicles of Aeridor #1)

In the oppressive theocracy of Aeridor, pleasure is heresy.  The Ascended, warriors inked with sacred scripture, enforce the dogma of bodily denial. Saint-General Kael, a paragon of zealous purity, is tasked with eradicating the Whispering Chorus, a heretical sect that embraces the sanctity of touch.  He envisions their leader, Mirana, as a succubus, their sanctuary a den of iniquity.  But the reality he discovers in the sun-kissed coastal haven of Azima shatters his preconceptions. 

Mirana is not the monster he expected, but a healer of quiet strength, her amethyst eyes reflecting a wisdom that both unsettles and captivates him.  He captures her easily, but her serene defiance binds him with invisible chains, igniting a disquiet that challenges his deepest convictions.  Their interactions in her seaside tower evolve from tense interrogations to shared moments of vulnerability. Mirana’s teachings unravel Kael’s tightly wound faith, revealing a path to the divine through the very sensations his Order condemns.

But their forbidden connection stirs unrest within the Citadel. Deacon Theron, a zealot driven by rigid dogma, sees Mirana as a threat and Kael’s growing affection as sacrilege.  He fans the flames of dissent, turning Kael’s quest for truth into an act of betrayal, setting the stage for a holy war that threatens to tear Aeridor apart.  Torn between the dogma etched into his skin and the burgeoning love in his heart, Kael must choose a side. His decision will not only determine his fate and Mirana’s, but the future of Aeridor itself.  Will he cling to the rigid doctrines of the Ascended or embrace the whispers of his heart, risking everything for a love that could redeem a nation?