She stood alone in her study, lit only by the golden fire dancing in the hearth. Her fingers clenched tightly around the edge of a desk scattered with open scrolls. Her eyes were fixed on the darkened horizon beyond her window—but her thoughts were lost in the past, and in the growing dread of what the future might bring.
He’s his father’s son, she thought grimly. But the nobles will never see that.
For years now, a powerful faction within the royal court had whispered behind closed doors, arguing that Heiko Nightshade, cursed and bonded to the Deathbringer beast, was too dangerous. Too volatile. Unfit to be part of the Moon Heaven Kingdom.
And yet, Heiko had proved them wrong, time and time again. He had led troops through impossible terrain, won wars that should have ended in ruin. Al
