Princess Aurelia survives the bloody massacre of her Northern dynasty as a child, returning fifteen years later under the underworld mantle of Vespera. Cloaked in the humble garments of a palace servant, she infiltrates Saint Iron City to seduce Regent Valerius, intending to manipulate the unyielding ruler into crushing her royal enemies.
What begins as calculated emotional warfare turns deadly when ancient blood feuds ignite between their realms. When Valerius takes an assassin's blade to preserve her life, Aurelia faces an arranged marriage across frozen borders, unaware that her wounded regent is marching through winter snows to pledge his empire at her feet.
