Carissa Darnell has embraced her destiny as a Maleficium. Reeling from a shocking tragedy and uncertain who to trust, she is forced to seize a chance at freedom. If she is to prove herself a powerful Queen, she must show she rules with her head and not her heart-even if it could cost her the man she loves. Jacen Morrow walks a fine line between love and loyalty, unable to choose between his family and his wife. As the clock ticks down to the birth of his son and heir, Jacen must discover just how far he is willing to go and what boundaries he will cross to make the ultimate decision-one there is no turning back from. Sebastian Darnell seeks vengeance, and he is adamant on destroying all of the Morrows once and for all. His advisors have a more daring goal in mind, one that relies upon pitting the Darnell siblings against each other to prove that Sebastian has the stronger claim. What does he want more-a throne, or the sister he thought he'd never see again?