Cruel Illusions By Margie Fuston File

The air in the tasted of copper and old secrets. For Carina, the magic wasn't a gift; it was a desperate gamble. To save her mother’s life, she had to infiltrate the world’s most elite and lethal magic competition—the very one that had claimed her brother years before.

Her competition was a sea of velvet and cold smiles, but one stood out: . He was an illusionist whose tricks weren't just sleight of hand; they were mirrors into your deepest fears. As the rounds progressed, the illusions grew "cruel"—monsters born of ink and shadow that could draw real blood. Carina realized the magic powering the Circle was darker than the history books admitted. Cruel Illusions by Margie Fuston

With Jovan at her side, she learned that the deadliest illusions are the ones we tell ourselves to stay safe. The air in the tasted of copper and old secrets

In the final trial, the veil between reality and deception dissolved. Carina had to choose: win the prize and let the cycle of blood continue, or shatter the illusion and lose the one thing she came to save. Her competition was a sea of velvet and