Only a ruthless monster can save a lost kingdom.After centuries away, I'm relieved to find the kingdom of Stygarde at peace, even if I can't believe who is sitting on the throne. I vow to make the best of it. After all, I owe Eloise a proper courtship. Hell, I owe her everything, including my life. I want nothing more than to become the mate she deserves, worthy of her sacrifice. But when Eloise struggles to reconnect with her spirit magic, the grief and loss she feels over losing her family all over again becomes a barrier between us I fear is insurmountable. Until Eloise disappears, and I must face a new reality, one I've desperately tried to avoid. To get her back, I must shed the restraint I've learned for her and become the ruthless monster I was before my capture. Before I became her mate.