Thirteen young women.
One Prince and Dragon rider.
In the kingdom of Aurelia, the path to the throne is paved with ambition, beauty, and sacrifice. A special selection is held to choose the next dragon queen from among the finest daughters of the founding magical nobilities. Thirteen girls, one from each of the foundational families, are chosen to vie for the crown and become the next dragon queen—and the hand of the enigmatic Crown Prince Cassian, the best dragon rider in the seven kingdoms and rider of the ancient, powerful black dragon Taheer.
Among them is Lira, the thirteenth girl, a quiet but captivating young woman who seems to have come from nowhere. Unbeknownst to the court, Lira is no noble; she has no powers. She is an impostor. She did not come from a founding family. Driven by revenge, she has infiltrated the selection to destroy the monarchy that unjustly executed her father, a former advisor accused of treason.
Lira expects to despise the prince, to see him as a reflection of the corrupt crown. Instead, she immediately bonds with his dragon Taheer and finds Cassian to be kind, intelligent, and burdened by the weight of a kingdom's expectations. He, in turn, is drawn to her fiery spirit and quiet resolve, a stark contrast to the polished perfection of the other contenders.
But a new Dragon Queen must be chosen and Lira might not stand a chance. Will Lira's thirst for vengeance destroy them all?
