After losing everything, Caden stumbles into the territory of a lion pride. But not any lion pride, it's Ajax' pride. Ajax is a typical alpha male: cocky, overly confident and when he wants something he does everything to get it. And as soon as he sets his eyes on Caden, he knows that he has to have him. But Caden isn't fond of being owned and doesn't hesitate to use his claws. After all, he's a cougar and cougars tend to keep to themselves. Don't they?

THEY ATTACKED TWO RIDERS. THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASY. THEY WERE WRONG. A band of thieves set upon two lonely riders in the middle of the night. They had a larger party. They had the element of surprise. There was no reason to be concerned, but they didn’t realize who they were dealing with. No prior knowledge of The Riyria Revelations or The Riyria Chronicles is required to enjoy it to its fullest, making this a perfect introduction for new readers or a chance for Riyria veterans to spend a little more time with old friends. NOTE: This was originally published as the first chapter of Theft of Swords (Book #1 and Book #2 of The Riyria Revelations), so for those who have that book...you already have this story.

**One can be evil, and still have a good heart, just as one can be good but still have a heart tainted by evil.** "There was an undeniable comfort and stability in a stable future, at having every detail of your life meticulously planned out. But even so, there was a part of me, an ever persistent part, that longed to be uncertain, for mystery. If only I had known what that uncertainty would cost me." Lana Eleanor is in trouble. After accidentally revealing her magic, her parents set off to the palace for her execution. In the kingdom of Eerea, there is no greater crime than magic. Betrayed by those closest to her, she tries to escape using her new abilities, only to find that they are now useless. When the notorious Andreas Scott Grigoli saves her, she must choose between two dangerous paths: go with a murderer, or stay and be killed. She chooses to go with him, but remains suspicious of his motives while fighting a strange attraction to the mysterious man. When she learns of a common enemy, she begins to trust him a little more. He begins to teach her magic, but each lesson drives a wedge between them. As new faces and dangers appear, it becomes clear that hiding for her life and trying to master her powers are simple compared to surviving Andreas' mercurial attitude. //special thanks to @ZaraHoffman for the blurb!//