TO RULE, SHE MUST BE KING.

hem, and the time had come for Ithar to crown a new ruler. For years, the kingdom had watched the boy prince, Aven, grow into a promising leader, b

short and neatly cropped, framed a face that had once been hers, but now felt foreign. The tight-fitting tunic and trousers, the boots that pinc

locks, the hair that had once marked her as the princess of Ithar. But now, in the eyes of the kingdom, she was Aven-th

ight of the secret, of the stolen life, pressed down on her like a thousand stones. She had not asked for this. She

ickly turned away from the mirror, wiping away any trace of vulnerability

doorframe, his tired eyes scanning his son. He had always been a man of great stature, both in presence and authori

eeted him, her voice

gaze softened as he looked at the boy standing before him, but there

as ready, but only in the sense that she had no other choice. The c

king said, his voice wavering slightly.

never looked beyond the façade of the boy he thought was his son. He had never once questioned the

ather," she r

on her shoulder. "I only wish your brother had lived

had died all those years ago, the one whose death had set all of this into motion. The grief that she had carried for so long flared

emory," Avaline said, the words c

is eyes distant. "I know you will.

it had cost her to become Aven. He had no idea how much she had sacrificed to wear this mask, to take on th

nger before nodding to her. "Get some rest. Tomo

he edge of her bed, her fingers trembling as they traced the edges of her tunic. She had been living in this false identity for so long that she had forgotten

eedom. Not for her.

would never know the truth. They would never know that the prince they hailed as their savior was a woman in disguise. A

ybe, just maybe, she could find a way to re

at does the crown hold? And tom