In Darkness We Claim

At Shadowmere University, power determines who rules, who belongs, and who is left vulnerable. Behind its elite reputation stands the Obsidian Order, a secret society whose members wield influence far beyond the university walls. For Lawson Radley, a Crow Pledge, ambition and control have always mattered more than emotion. Harper Westmore once seemed destined for a secure place in this privileged world. Raised to become the ideal Order Wife, she was expected to marry Lawson’s rival. But when her family loses its standing, the future she was promised disappears. With her reputation and security at risk, Harper turns to the one man who may be able to help her—even though he is also the person she has every reason to fear. Lawson recognizes an opportunity in Harper’s situation. He offers a deal that places her under his control, with terms that test her willingness to trust him. Their arrangement begins with power, possession, and carefully defined expectations. Yet neither can fully control what happens when old hostility meets growing attraction. As the secrets surrounding the Order and their personal histories come into focus, Harper and Lawson must navigate a relationship where vulnerability can be dangerous and desire carries consequences. Their story explores obsession, status, loyalty, trust, and the complicated boundary between control and genuine connection. The novel opens The Crows trilogy, following one central couple across three books. Readers should expect an ongoing storyline rather than a complete romantic resolution in this first instalment; the author’s series note indicates that the first two books end on cliffhangers. This dark new-adult romance is intended for mature readers who enjoy secret societies, elite university settings, morally grey characters, enemies-to-lovers tension, possessive romance, and high-intensity relationship drama. The author also advises readers to review the content warnings before beginning.