Survive the Trials. Win the Crown. Escape the Past. Nim Reed has spent her life surviving the streets of the sprawling capital of Eritris—a kingdom of insect-hybrids. A thief by necessity and a ghost by design, she keeps her head down, her secrets buried, and her past forgotten. Until the day she picks the wrong pocket. Sebastian Octavius is a long-vanished prince of Eritris, returned from years at sea to stake his claim in the deadly Trials—a brutal contest where nobles wager champions to fight for the throne. He needs a champion to fight on his behalf and his vision for a brighter future for their country. Victory means freedom. Losing means death. But as Nim navigates lethal battles, whispered betrayals, and a growing attraction to the prince with a rebel’s heart, she realizes there’s more at stake than just her survival. Someone suspects the truth she’s been running from. And in a kingdom built on power and blood, secrets are the deadliest weapon of all. Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Red Rising, this standalone fantasy romance blends high-stakes competition, slow-burn romance, and a heroine who will risk everything for her dreams. Though this novel is noted as the second book in the Three Kingdoms Trilogy, it is a standalone novel and readers do not need to first read Of Dragons and Defiancé. The kingdoms featured in the trilogy are linked and Easter eggs are scattered for readers who choose to consume the series. Three kingdoms on the brink of destruction. Three princes facing down ruinous fates. These are their stories…and those of the women who guided the way to glory.