Assassin Romance

Looking for some romantic fantasy books where an assassin is instructed or plans to kill his target but ends up falling for her. It can also be that he never targeted her, he can just be a really good, cruel and practical assassin but ends up working with her. The Emperor’s Edge by Lindsay Buroker is basically what’s got me craving this type of story. Please no recommendations about Sarah J Maas or Serpent and Dove, I’ve read these YA books and many others like them and just find the writing lazy, with the male characters being just subtle abusers. Thank you in advance to whoever sees this!

Daindreth's Assassin (the assassin is female) is very good. I'm planning on reading the rest of the series.

I've heard good things about The Assassin's Curse by Clarke but haven't read it myself.

Have you tried Poison Study by Maria Snyder? I read it when it came out, 1st of a trilogy, the romance not the primary bit, a lot of world building and intrigue