Lizz was obsessed with the romance novel Crimson Empire, particularly its brooding villain, Demon Lord Valerian.  Then, a rooftop accident changes everything.  She finds herself reborn as Elara, the novel's doomed second lead, whose sole purpose is to die tragically and fuel the hero's revenge.  Armed with her knowledge of the story, Lizz is determined to survive.  But her plans take an unexpected turn when she finds herself drawn to Valerian, the very man who's supposed to kill her. As Lizz navigates the treacherous court politics and unravels the secrets of Crimson Empire, she discovers that love can bloom in the darkest of places, even if it means rewriting the ending entirely.

Chapter 35 - Embers of Dawn