Ascendant Series, Series by Kyra Gregory

Fresh from her victory against King Nero of Evrad, Sybelle settles into her role as Queen and with not a moment to spare. A fleet from the Kingdom of Azura looms just outside the shores of Lionessa, inching closer and closer with each passing day. Upon landing on the sands of Lionessa, King Alessio offers Sybelle a chance to avoid the humiliation of defeat and to forfeit half of the newly-claimed land of Evrad to him... moreFresh from her victory against King Nero of Evrad, Sybelle settles into her role as Queen and with not a moment to spare. A fleet from the Kingdom of Azura looms just outside the shores of Lionessa, inching closer and closer with each passing day. Upon landing on the sands of Lionessa, King Alessio offers Sybelle a chance to avoid the humiliation of defeat and to forfeit half of the newly-claimed land of Evrad to him. Still bitter over King Alessio's refusal to help her against King Nero in the early days of her reign, Sybelle declines, despite being troubled by the prospect of leading her people into another war. less