I was never meant to be queen. 

 

I was betrothed to the spare. Destined for life in the background, with a prince I thought might like me with time, but I accepted my fate, just grateful to be near my sister in this distant kingdom so far from home.

 

Then everything changed and I’m forced out of the shadows, into the light. 

 

Alaric will be King which means I have to be his Queen. Now I have to learn how to become what my sister was trained for and marry a male who doesn’t want me, all while falling in love the head of our guard. 

 

Kol’s tasked with protecting Alaric and I, but he’s so much more to both of us. They were best friends as younglings, and now it feels like he’s all I have. But Kol would never betray Alaric like that, even if I’m his ryder.

 

The King is determined to make Alaric into the prince he wants, no matter the cost. There are enemies at every turn and I feel like I can’t trust even the ground under my feet.

 

We have all paid a high price in this war, but if we put our faith in each other and protect the family we’ve made, will we triumph or will it ruin us all?