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Princess Elara Vance has one rule: trust no one. Especially not Crown Prince Kaelen Thorne.
For five years, they have been at each other's throats. She is the "Ice Queen" of the rigid, militaristic North-brilliant, strategic, and ruthlessly protective of her family. He is the "Golden Shark" of the decadent South-masking a razor-sharp, dangerous mind behind a charming, frivolous smile. They have sabotaged each other's treaties, humiliated each other at royal summits, and made it their life's mission to see the other fail.
But when a mysterious, deadly rebellion begins assassinating royals across the continent, their warring kingdoms are forced into a fragile, desperate alliance. The price of peace? A royal marriage.
Now, Elara and Kaelen must share a palace, share a bed, and convince the entire court they are hopelessly, madly in love. The rules are simple: play the part, smile for the nobles, and do not kill each other before the wedding night.
But as late-night arguments in their shared suite turn into lingering touches, and protective instincts override centuries of hatred, Elara realizes the most dangerous threat to her kingdom isn't the rebel army.
It's the way Kaelen looks at her when he thinks she isn't looking. And Kaelen realizes the only person he can truly trust is the rival he was supposed to destroy.