In the kingdom of Eldoria, every citizen is bound by a strict law: marriage is mandatory at sixteen, a decree aimed at reviving the kingdom's dwindling population. For many, the tradition is dreaded, but none more so than the young women who have no voice in their fate. During the annual Claiming ceremony, men publicly declare their choices by listing three women in order of preference, with the final decision sealing their futures. For the women, refusal is not an option.
Aria Veyra, a sixteen-year-old orphan raised in the harsh confines of the Facility for lower-class children, has spent her life dreading this moment. Haunted by fear and the certainty that she will be chosen as little more than a token of convenience, Aria braces for the worst. But when her name is called, the man who claims her shatters every expectation. His choice sets off a chain of events that will upend not only her life but the very foundation of Eldoria itself.
As Aria grapples with her new reality, she must uncover the secrets behind her claim-and the dangerous truths about the kingdom she calls home.
