She was as gentle as the rain that fell on the bamboo leaves. Innocent as the summer scent that brushed against the ripening wheat. A princess in ancient china, she would follow myths and legends until she became one herself. She was a rose who would become the gilded fire lily, the symbol of war and revenge. All of creation would know her name as she takes her ranks among the gods. Her hands would signal the rise and fall of nations and the fate of the gods themselves. From chess piece to grand master, Yu Zhu's journey will take her far and across all the realms until she claims her destiny.

Penny: I still remember the first moment our eyes met, something happened. Those icy blue eyes. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. I could feel the magnetic pull and we're both helpless against it. Our eyes met constantly across the room. He would be the first to tear his eyes away. He's so powerful, though. So charismatic. He's a lycan. I'm just a regular werewolf. I couldn't stop thinking about him. I made up my mind that I would make him love me. I would fight for what I want. I would deny my own mate if it means I get to keep him. Three years I went after him single-mindedly. I laid my heart out for him. He kept pushing me away. Then one day he pushed too far...and I'm tired of fighting for us. There's no us. I'm just a fool. I'm done fighting. I made up my mind that I'm going forget him. I'm going to go out there and lose my virginity, over and over again if I have to. I mean, why hold on to it, right? It's not like I'm getting an award for keeping it the longest. Not likely that my mate will keep his virginity for me. Darius certainly didn't. Why the double standard? So, why can't he just leave me alone now? Why is he so hellbent on breaking me? Stupid lycan. Ughhh...stupid, stupid lycan. Darius: The moment I laid my eyes on her, I knew she's my erasthai. The one. The exotic looking dark haired beauty. Dark eyes taunting me. Haunting me. Only I'm not looking for the one. I'm a warrior, there's no room for a mate. A mate will make you weak. My enemies could get to me through my mate. Then it happened. She finally gave up. For some reason, it makes me mad. Not only did she give up, but she gets this crazy idea that she's going to lose her virginity to some random stranger. Fvck that! That's not going to happen. Nobody else is touching her. I'll make her wait until she finds her mate. She's so stubborn, though. She's driving me crazy. So, why can't I leave her alone?