River finally has everything she thought she wanted-her throne, her sister by her side, and her cousin, Lilith, in check. But ruling is far more treacherous than reclaiming a crown. Iris, determined to carve out a place for her own kingdom, has left River's side, and Lilith, refusing to be subdued, vanishes with the one secret that could shatter River's fragile peace with the Spitarian people. Ky, now free from his father's grasp, is left heartbroken. But his pain is the least of his problems. The prophecy that has haunted Ky looms closer, and with it, a fate Ky has kept hidden for too long. And when a new enemy rises-one more ruthless than either of them imagined-it is not just war they must face, but destiny itself. With enemies closing in and time running out, River and Ky must fight not only for their thrones, but for the survival of their people. When the final battle arrives, River will learn the hardest truth: some sacrifices are inevitable. The throne came at a cost. Keeping it will demand a sacrifice. And saving those she loves may mean forfeiting everything-even herself.
