Heir of the Hidden Flame

The emperor of Corria cannot be near an ordinary woman. Dylan Palmer's body has been like that since birth, so he has spent years looking for the one woman it will allow, and every child of the royal line is born with a birthmark no other family carries. Six years ago Dylan went to a temple to pray. Emma Weber, a daughter of a ducal house, drugged the incense there, meaning to carry his child and become empress. Nina Greer, a commoner who had come to the same temple to burn incense, breathed it in as well and spent the night with him. Dylan woke up thinking he had dreamed it. Six years later a child walks in front of him with the royal birthmark on him, and the Empress Dowager sees it too. Dylan starts looking for the woman from the temple. Emma, still set on the throne, finds out that Nina exists.