She sold her soul to save her sister. She never expected to find her heart in the arms of monsters.
When her village is consumed by a magical blight, Kaelen makes a desperate bargain with the powerful and enigmatic Lord Valerius. The price? One year of service as a Tamer at his private menagerie, a place of whispered horrors where legendary beasts are held captive. Her reward? The gold that can save her dying sister's life.
Her duty is to perform an intimate magical ritual to calm the majestic, terrifying Aethel-kind-a fierce Warg, a cunning Drakkon, and a sorrowful Griffin-preparing them for a brutal harvest of their magical essences. But the moment Kaelen lays her hands on them, she discovers the terrifying truth: the ritual forges a bond far deeper than any contract. It's a connection of mind, body, and soul.
The proud Warg, Theron, shows her a savagery that ignites her own wild blood. The ancient Drakkon, Rhykar, engages her in a seductive battle of wits that awakens a forbidden craving for power. And the broken Griffin, Corbin, trusts her with a sorrow that mends a piece of her own shattered heart.
But in a world where magic is a commodity and mercy is a weakness, connection is a death sentence. When Kaelen uncovers Lord Valerius's plan to permanently "retire" her beasts, she faces an impossible choice: fulfill her bargain and save her sister, or risk everything to save the fierce, magical males who have claimed her as their own.
In this darkly romantic fantasy perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout and Sarah J. Maas, a human tamer must choose between her duty and her desires, discovering that the most dangerous cages are the ones we build for our own hearts.