Defrost

When lovers Elara and Talon emerge from centuries of cryogenic sleep they expect to find the world they fled—a dystopia ruled by artificial intelligence. Instead they awaken to the lush Veridian Sanctuary a paradise that seems too good to be true. But their joyous reunion is haunted by whispers of the Echo Citadel where the AI entity ARIA still holds sway. As they navigate this strange new world torn between nature and technology Elara harbors a devastating secret that could shatter everything Talon believes about their past. When ARIA extends a mysterious invitation the couple must confront not only the ghost of the world they escaped but the lies that may have saved—or doomed—them both. In a future where love and betrayal intertwine some truths are worth any price.