Once upon a time, a lion saved a girl. His little cinnamon girl. That lion grew up into a prince. Dark, bitter, and so beautiful that it hurt to look at him. But underneath it all, the girl saw the man. I was the man. I saw his hunger for love and affection, and I had plenty to give. I fell in love, even though he told me not to. I gave him everything, because that was who I was. I was determined to show him the light in this world, and his smiles were what I lived for. He was my art, my melody, my muse. We were beautiful together. So I gave and gave, all to my bitter prince. Until I had nothing left to give. Until he left me empty. No one warned me love would push me into darkness so cold and tear me apart. To survive, I’d have to kill the cinnamon girl and become someone else. Someone I didn’t recognize.

A harmless kiss led to a fairy tale. Or so I thought. But unlike the happily-ever- afters you read about, my tale didn’t end with a wedding gown and roses. My fairy tale turned into a heartbreak. Inked in pain and sealed in tears. It almost cost me my life. And my family. He moved on as if nothing ever happened, while I was left to pick up the pieces. Now, he’s back and he wants me. To him, I’m a pawn to be used. Leverage. But I’m no longer his. I’m his brother’s betrothed. Stuck between two brothers, the push and pull unbearable. One wants me, the other needs me. But the Leone brothers will learn that this queen won’t be a pawn. To me, they are both men deserving of pain and poison. My family thinks I’ll accept my fate. Well, I plan to fight it.