Queen Takes Rogue: A Dark Fantasy Romance (Awakened) by Joline Pearce

A queen’s heart under siege. Five years after defeating the forces of darkness alongside her gods-chosen knight, Queen Valonya faces a new battle—one much closer to home. Someone is assassinating her suitors, and the culprit’s identity is none other than Severin, the once-celebrated knight who was caught red-handed killing Val’s intended. After the war, Sev left Val, her court, and the weight of ruling behind. But now he's back, and he’s left the queen with more than bitter memories: she’s carrying his child. She can’t make a known murderer her prince consort. Nor can she bring herself to marry anyone else. Val agrees to her Council’s solution: a tournament to decide her fate. But her plans are upended when Sev turns himself in—and the Council grants him a chance to compete to clear his name. If Sev wins, he'll walk free—but Val will have to marry a stranger. If she wins, she can raise her child on her terms...and Sev will die. In this high-stakes game of loyalty, love, and vengeance, will Val find a way to save the man who once meant everything to her? Does she want to, or do old hurts still cut too deep? Read more