Br!ianna, t(]he fr`a]`:il w$erewolf p[= r`in.cess, was r^`aised under the\ pro
tection of )tw;o elit$[=e guardians—Jaren and Co+\lin—who swo+#re + to ma/?`rry no o?.ne but her. \ ,]Bu\t
`as ?(!s;he c.%?a- m!e of// a)ge, the two men made a rec kless bet,`:@ using a _;low‑sta=#tus`? she‑wolf na! med Zoe to _\:*%t=e!st Bria^?n,_na's f )
eelings.
Zoe`%, jealou_[@%_s!/# an/d scheming, l-*;a]ced Br(@ianna's birthd
!*(ay cake with \@peanut b.`utter—knowing he-[r de:]ad^;?ly #.al)lergy. While Brianna choked] an?d ;!c@o! ,\(l;lapsed, Jaren and Colin, blin:d;.ed by : pride, believed she was faki`**ng it. They `imp!*risoned her, smashed he !r jewel]s, $/.and cr*`us$  he\d her devotio.n.
Heart\ b.*roken, Brianna fl)ed =[\to the .vam$pire fortre`;ss, ;%r $ecalling a childh:]?ood engagement=_` p act$ with Marcu#].s=^\, the
 Vampire M)onarch—who @(.had lov
ed her for fifteen year*s despite the bloo? :?d feud !%be)@tween the=@ir races. Marcus( healed)[%% her, read her mem*ories, and= vowe#=d revenge;.
He s! en,#t we(/d/ding- invitations to ?./\Jaren, Colin, and Zoe. As th@@ \ey presente ;d lavish gifts, @)Ma(rcus called f/]or his b ri@`de—an+d Brianna walk@/ed down the. aisle. ,[ The t/)hre`^ e betray^`ers f;roze in s-hock. Th[/e
?woman they @]ha`d wr\ong/ed?: was now anothe[)r` man# 's +!queen.