Cover for Singer of the Dawn, a closed-door fantasy romance by Regan Allen, showing a woman in a gorgeous medieval gown standing next to a man with a mask covering half of his face

Singer of the Dawn, Book 4 in the Bonded Realms Series

Published July 14, 2025, from Edwards and Williams

Treated as a pawn, can she prove her power?

For years, the quick-witted Lady Ysabelle Benzel has been forced to advance the ambitions of her wicked stepfather, first as a singer for the court and later in pursuing a marriage alliance. Ysa thought she'd escaped him at last by hiding among the Khorrum, the warriors of the wildwood, who have become her dearest friends.

Kullan Asanji is a powerful Khorrum healer, yet he struggles to heal his own wounds. If only he could punish the high-ranking man who gave him the scars he hides behind a mask. Kullan had thought kidnapping the man's stepdaughter would force a confrontation. Yet he quickly realizes that Ysa is no pawn. She has a growing power that might even heal his heart, a heart that is more hers every day.

As Ysa's stepfather allies himself with their enemies, he puts her friends and Kullan's people in danger. Ysa must learn to master her power and turn it for a purpose she never imagined. Together, she and Kullan might be the only ones who can prove that true love is strong enough to conquer the rising darkness.

Tropes: city girl/country boy, from different worlds, fish out of water, pulled out of your life, forced proximity, finding your power

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A Little Taste

Light streamed through the thick canopy of the wildwood like strands of gold, warming the air. Kullan tipped back his head, closed his eyes, and drank it in. This deep in the Shadow Hills, days were generally shrouded in cool mist, even in summer. Moments like these were rare and to be treasured.

A noise behind him let him know the next of his people had come out to celebrate as well. He slipped the mask back into place before turning.

"Tolli insisted she come too," Den complained with a narrow-eyed look at their guest.

In her Khorrum clothing, Lady Ysabelle bent her knees in the gesture her people called a curtsey, though somehow she did it more gracefully than anyone he had seen attempt it. "Surely a moment in the sun wasn't too much to ask, mighty Khan."

"I am not the khan," Kullan said. He started to turn his gaze back out into the wildwood, but one glance at her hair, hanging in glorious damp waves nearly to her waist, and he couldn't look away.

"You are welcome to join us," he managed, "so long as you don't take more than two steps beyond the opening to the cave."

"Two steps?" She minced forward and raised a brow. "Like this?"

"That's fine," Kullan said, hiding a smile.

Tolli drew in a deep breath, face also turned to the sky. "Oh, how lovely it is!"

Lady Ysabelle seemed to think so as well, for her rosy lips parted as she gazed around at the wildwood. The caves were below the devastated area along the ridge. Firs grew tall and straight, reaching for the sky. Massive mushrooms in scarlet and violet clustered among the roots. The flash of cerulean told of the passage of a skylark, dipping down to capture the bitebugs and other insects that clung to the shadows. Bird calls and chevirill chirps echoed from the depths. He had grown up in a place much like this, and he still found reasons for awe.

The rattle of rocks told of something above them on the hill. Den reached for his dagger. Kullan stepped back to shelter Tolli and Lady Ysabelle. Banna dropped down beside them. Her face was tight. "They're coming."

"Inside," Kullan commanded. "Now."

He wasn't sure whether it was the bark of his voice or the fear on Banna's face, but Lady Ysabelle obeyed without question for once. As Tolli led the lady deeper into the cave, Kullan, Den, and Banna remained near the entrance. More rocks trickled down as their enemies passed above with a rumble of iron wheels. The guards never spoke. Did they think silence allowed them to pass unnoticed? Anyone with ears heard them coming. Those without surely felt them.

Still, Kullan waited until the noise had faded into the distance before nodding to Banna.

Drawing her bow, she slipped from the cave, gaze darting from wildwood to hillside. A moment more, and she was up the cliff and gone.

"What was that?"

Lady Ysabelle had crept up behind them with Tolli at her back. His guest craned her neck to see past him and Den, standing so high on her toes that she might have toppled.

Den moved to block what little view she had. "Nothing that need concern you."

"Well, it obviously concerns you," she countered, dropping back onto her soles. "And since you're all the protection I have, I would think it ought to concern me as well."

Kullan turned to the big warrior. "Range west. See if any others are approaching. I'd like to give all our people a moment in the sun if I can. It will help them heal."

"It will be as you say," Den replied with a last look at the lady. Then he climbed down into the wildwood and disappeared.

"Ask Gan to come out," Kullan told Tolli. "I'll watch over Lady Ysabelle."

To his surprise, the Metal-Kin frowned at him.

"I'll be fine, Tolli," Lady Ysabelle assured her. "I'm not afraid of Kullan."

With a nod, Tolli set off.

"I must be losing my skill," Kullan said. "Most of your people are afraid of me."

She seated herself on a rock near the entrance. "You haven't met the ones I have."

Connected Books

Singer of the Dawn is the fourth book in the Bonded Realms series. The others include

You can read the prequel, Princess of the Shadows, by signing up for my newsletter.

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