The Edge of the Sphere by Thea Landen

Following a near-fatal accident, artist Stephen MacClare moves out of Manhattan to upstate New York, interacting only with his sister and the residents of nearby towns where he tries to sell his paintings. When he finds a strange stone in the woods near his home, he dreams of a beautiful woman every time he falls asleep. She cannot speak, yet they quickly form an intimate bond. Unsure of whether she is real or fantasy, he vows to find her, no matter the cost.

Liora is a prisoner of Thirvar, the cruel and fearsome ruler of the kingdom of Marindal. She has no memory of life before her capture, but is tasked with maintaining the magical barrier that keeps Marindal safe. A mysterious sphere beneath her isolated cottage fuels her power, and she experiments with using it to communicate outside her world.

Through the sphere, Liora establishes contact with Stephen and transports him to Marindal, where he is detained by Thirvar as soon as he arrives. The lovers must work together and independently to flee his domain, and she promises to help Stephen find a way back home. Along their path to freedom, Stephen learns hidden tales of Marindal’s history, while Liora must reconcile with her tragic past. Will their love survive the journey?