I poisoned the king? The king's forbidden taste.

The King is dead. The palace chef is accused of murder. And the new King—the son returning to claim the throne—wants the truth. She swears she’s innocent. He swears to uncover her lies. But when suspicion turns into desire, will he crown her guilty… or his Queen? _____________________ Once the palace’s quiet chef, she is suddenly branded the prime suspect in a murder that could topple the throne. The crown now rests on the head of the late King’s son—a man returning from exile with vengeance in his eyes. To uncover the truth, the new King must face betrayal, secrets, and a woman he should never trust. Yet the deeper he digs, the more he finds himself drawn to the very suspect who might have spilled his father’s last cup of wine. Was she the King’s poisoner… or his only ally in a palace drowning in lies? ______________ EXCERPT “You're lying to me, aren't you, Althea? That's not the reason." Alaric pulled her impossibly closer, causing her to stand on her tiptoes. Her face turned up towards his. He dragged his nose across her cheeks. Althea's eyes closed at the contact against her will, and her breath hitched as his lips found her ear. "Tell me what it is. Is it because of whatever rumors you have heard about Morwenna and me?" Althea stiffened instantly, and her eyes shot open. Alaric felt the change and looked into her eyes. He could see the guilt in her eyes, and he smiled. Althea blinked at his reaction. "I don't have any intention of marrying her or getting engaged with her. I have no intentions with her at all. The one I have any intentions with is you and only you, Althea." With that he tilted his head, and his lips met hers in a passionate kiss. The hunger in his kiss left no space for doubt. It was fierce and consuming, as if he'd been starving for her all along. He kissed her like a starved man, each breathless press pulling her deeper into a storm she couldn't resist.