Alaric wants her and he’s prepared to be the beast in her story to get her As nothing more than a country nobleman’s daughter, Thea believed her future held only the mundane running of a household and soothing the egos of self-important men. When her father stages a rebellion - grasping at a better life for their often neglected corner of the kingdom - and fails, everything changes and Thea knows her life will never be the same. Alaric is ruthless, bloodthirsty, and never flinches away from the darker side of what it means to be King. If the whispers are to be believed, he’s as likely to take a head as consider a diplomatic solution. When he left the palace, Alaric’s only intention was to quash a rebellion, and crush anyone who stood in his way. But then he saw Thea. Alaric knows he wants her, and doesn’t care what she has to say about it. He always gets what he wants.

Alaric wanted her. He got her. Now, can he keep her? From the daughter of a country nobleman to spending most of her days - and nights - at the King’s side, Thea never could have imagined the life she lived now. Certainly not after growing up on a steady diet of stories depicting the monster that ruled their kingdom. The more time she spent with Alaric, the more she couldn’t help question the ideas that she had always taken as fact. Alaric was ruthless, but loyal. Bloodthirsty, but in the defense of others. Just when Thea finally lets herself stop agonizing over these conflicting ideas and give into her growing feelings, trouble stirs. Trouble, once again, speared onward by her father. Whether she likes it or not, the time is rapidly approaching that Thea is going to have to make a decision and officially pick a side. But where will her loyalties land: with the family she was born into or the King that makes her feel alive?