He was sworn to protect his kingdom. But fate has other plans.
In the shadowed wilds of Eirduin - where magic breathes through the land and legends still walk among men - King Khalidan Blackwood is more myth than monarch. Known as the Beast, he is the kingdom's relentless protector, forged by duty and haunted by the prophecy that has ruled his life. For years, he's searched for the one destined to stand beside him and bring down the Prism's corruption. Now, every sign points to her.
Princess Ciara of Alinora. Reckless. Dangerous. A threat to everything he's vowed to defend. With his brother acting as a spy inside enemy lines and the rebellion on the brink, Khal must set aside years of distrust and draw close to the girl he was never meant to meet. Even if it means deceiving her. Even if getting too close risks unraveling the man he's become.
Because the longer he walks this path, the closer he comes to becoming the Beast they all fear - and the harder it is to remember where the legend ends and the man begins.