A world torn apart by greed. A boy bound by prophecy. A rebel who swore never to bow again.

Casteel was born to muck out stables, not carry the weight of kingdoms. But when he shifts into a silver wolf—the prophesied savior whispered about in legend—he’s dragged into the spotlight as a symbol for priests who are even crueler and more corrupt than the nobles they replaced. Crowned in chains of faith and fear, he knows he is nothing more than a puppet dressed in prophecy.

Nero has spilled blood for freedom, losing everything—his family, his faith, his heart—under the emperor’s greed. He has no intention of letting a boy, barely a man, undo the rebellion’s sacrifice by becoming another false idol. With his bow and assassin’s aim, Nero infiltrates the ceremony meant to crown the wolf savior… and prepares to end it with a single arrow.

But when he looks into Casteel’s eyes, he doesn’t see a ruler. He sees a prisoner. Miserable, broken, and used. His hand falters, his arrow misses—and in that heartbeat, the truth strikes harder than any the boy he meant to kill is his fated mate.

Now Nero must decide if destiny is another chain meant to bind him… or the only hope left to save them both.

288 pages