I was born a princess, a bargaining chip in a kingdom desperate to survive. Across the twenty realms—ten ruled by humans, ten by monsters—alliances were rare, fragile things. When my father promised me to the monster king of one of the savage realms, I knew it wasn’t a love match they bargained me for. It was to forge a powerful alliance. I told myself I could endure it—that it was for my kingdom and people. I’d sacrifice myself for the hope it helped others. I could stand proud and bold at my monster husband’s side, untouched by the darkness that surrounded him. But the moment I met him, all my carefully built walls crumbled. He was brutal, clever, and dangerous. He didn’t want a queen to parade in front of the realms. He wanted a mate to own. Possess. My monster husband took me, claimed me, and shattered everything I thought I knew about my life and the world. And somewhere between the bruising kisses and the cruel tenderness only I ever saw, I knew the truth. I could never tame him. And the secret I’d never admit to anyone else? I didn’t want to.