Before he was the Brenin Lwyd, the monstrous King of Selanthia, he was a prince who loved a maid. When he loses her, he loses himself, too. And he will take the rest of the world down with him. *** The prequel short story that explains the painful origins and the ultimate fate of the Grey King of Selanthia. It doesn't contain any spoilers for the other books.

Bread, grass, and rose. Plain, common, and uselessly fragile. The girl Solin was, who loved Aurik from the moment she met him, died when she heard his description of her. A new woman rose from the ashes. Two years later, Solin returns to the city of Tibalt, where the high society of the Kingdom of Aivieria gathers during the autumn, winter, and spring seasons. Widowed and carrying the knowledge that she will likely discover the mark of her mate within a year, Solin intends to use her last few months of freedom to enjoy herself before she settles down. The escort she chooses for her new, excitingly wild life? King Aurik, the man who ended her old one. And he's certainly not enjoying himself (ask Solin if she cares). It's about time the world was reminded that roses have thorns.