Princess Elara was born second—too unimportant to rule, too valuable to be free. When her conquered kingdom forces her into marriage with the emperor’s cruel son, she becomes a pawn in a deadly game. To win her place as his bride, she must survive humiliating trials where failure means execution.
But danger doesn’t end with her rivals. The emperor’s royal wards, captured princes from fallen realms, see Elara as the enemy, a traitor bowing to their oppressors. Yet their fury hides something else: desire, pain, and a spark of rebellion that could change everything.
As forbidden alliances ignite, Elara must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice, her heart, her country, or her life. In this empire of masks and lies, love might be the most dangerous game of all.
