Exiled half-beast prince Cassian storms back from the dead, slaughters his father, and seizes the throne in a bloodbath. His first prey, Vera, the ice-cold former queen. The woman who crushed their love for a crown, married his father, and cast him into the beast pit to rot. Consumed by rage, the ruthless new king forces his stepmother into his bed as his personal captive and swears to kill Lucian, Vera's royal son with the dead king. Then a bombshell drops. His so-called half-brother shares his rare, exclusive beast blood. Vera has hidden the truth of Lucian's identity.