Victoria Everett was betrothed to Prince Damien Ashcroft. But at the Royal Hunt banquet, Damien publicly humiliated her—and showed favor to Vivienne Rowe, a woman from a rival kingdom, allowing her to gravely wound Victoria's brother. Heartbroken, Victoria called off the engagement. To everyone's surprise, Prince Alexander Ashcroft—long rumored to be disfigured—began to show her kindness. The truth was that Alexander had been the one who saved her from a fire when they were children—and it was Damien who had orchestrated the disaster that had scarred him. Victoria revealed her hidden martial skills and strategic mind. In the autumn hunt and the border unrest that followed, she outmatched Damien at every turn. Step by step, she exposed the schemes of Lady Grace and the Rowe sisters—who had not only plotted against her, but had also conspired to destabilize the court itself.
