A student's ambition. A reclusive mage's trust. In the dance of time, love and betrayal collide.Julian Hartley's passion for magic knows no bounds, and the chance to study with Emeric Greywood, a renowned master of chronomancy, is beyond his wildest dreams. An apprenticeship with the reclusive and brilliant Emeric is the opportunity of a lifetime and a welcome escape from the shadow of his family's scandals.Emeric Greywood, a reclusive mage, guards his groundbreaking chronomancy research from the world, haunted by the specter of betrayal. When Julian seeks Emeric's tutelage, his defenses begin to crumble, but he senses Julian is hiding darker secrets that may threaten them both.Thrust into the dangerous Convocation Trials and forced to play a cunning senator's games, the fragile trust between Julian and Emeric is stretched to its limits. Their secrets risk tearing apart the delicate fabric of time they have woven together,Join Julian and Emeric on a journey where every tick of the clock echoes with danger, ambition, and forbidden attraction. In this perilous dance, the hands of time may offer salvation - or destruction.Vera Winters invites you to a world of enchantment with Clockwork and Conspiracies, the newest standalone entry in the Starlight Sanctum series. Perfect for fans of cozy fantasy, romance, and heartfelt adventures, this standalone M M romance weaves a captivating tapestry of magic, love, and the timeless struggle between fate and freedom. This book contains steamy romantic scenes intended for mature readers.