I was born a black rabbit princess, a color my clan believed meant disaster. My own father tried to kill me before I could even open my eyes. Only my sister Elara stood between me and his blade, raised me with kindness, and made me promise never to become the monster everyone feared.
Years later, Elara was sent to Lion King Kael as a treaty bride. One year after that, the Lions returned her in a black coffin with all four limbs gone and bite marks covering what remained of her body. I learned that Kael's longtime lover Astrid had mauled her alive—and Kael had ordered everyone to bury the truth.
So I took Elara's place and entered the Lion Kingdom as Kael's second official mate. I survived the traps waiting for me, killed Astrid's men, and let Kael's fascination with my cruelty grow into obsession. The stronger his protection became, the more useful he became as the blade for my revenge.
I turned Kael and Astrid against each other until he killed the woman who had butchered my sister. When I became pregnant, I used the child he treasured to lower his guard and pushed him to erase every envoy, healer, guard, and witness who had helped hide Elara's death.
Then only Kael remained. I brought him back to the dungeon where Elara died, let him believe I had finally chosen him, and drove my silver spirit blade through his heart when he hesitated to fight back for fear of harming his heir. I left the Lion Kingdom, severed the last bond tying me to its bloodline, and returned to Elara's grave with one promise fulfilled: no one would ever tear us apart again.
