Fitzgerald, Mara

Wiley and unapologetic socialite Emanuela Ragno is all set to marry the heir of the wealthiest house in the city of Occhia, who also happens to be her childhood best friend Alessandro Morandi--even though she is lesbian and he is gay. She doesn't care, though--it is a marriage not for love but for power, and she is about to have it all. However, she keeps a dark secret--the only source of water in Occhia is the mysterious, magical being known as the watercrea, and she only way she can make water is from sacrificed human blood--and Emanuela has been hiding the bruise on her leg that signifies she should be sacrificed next.

Emanuela has used her magic to rule the six cities of Occhia absolutely and without mercy toward those who 'disrespect' her, while her enemy Verene controls the resistance, just as they agreed--but now everything is going wrong, the 'omens' are out of control, and since Emanuela has already killed the old rulers who might have explained the deeper secrets of magic, she and Verene will have to work together in order to keep all the cities from collapsing into chaos.

"After Emanuela Ragno kills the one person in Occhia who can create water, she must find a way to save her city from dying of thirst"--Provided by publisher.