Elara is forced to marry the prince of Northmire, a man rumored to be a beast. With no other choice, she goes through with the wedding, expecting coldness, cruelty anything but what she finds. Because Lysander isn't what they say he is. As the days pass, Elara begins to see beyond the whispers. She gets to know him, the quiet strength, the hidden kindness, the burden he carries, and slowly, she falls for him. But the road ahead is anything but smooth. Lysander must fight his older brother for the throne, and having Elara by his side makes things more complicated. He has enemies inside and out, and she’s both his anchor and his weakness. He’ll have to protect her not just from his brother, but from himself.