They offer her as tribute. I take her as mine.

She stands before me—human, defiant, trembling under Vrakken scrutiny—and dares to look me in the eye. I should crush that fire. Break her. Use her like all the others.

But I don’t.

Because Valeria is different. Useful, yes. Sharp. Dangerous even in her weakness. But the moment I see her, I decide: no other will touch her. No other will own her.

I give her luxury instead of chains. Books instead of whips. A mission that could get her killed. And the promise that if she fails, I’ll be the one to end her.

But...

They offer her as tribute. I take her as mine.

She stands before me—human, defiant, trembling under Vrakken scrutiny—and dares to look me in the eye. I should crush that fire. Break her. Use her like all the others.

But I don’t.

Because Valeria is different. Useful, yes. Sharp. Dangerous even in her weakness. But the moment I see her, I decide: no other will touch her. No other will own her.

I give her luxury instead of chains. Books instead of whips. A mission that could get her killed. And the promise that if she fails, I’ll be the one to end her.

But she doesn’t break.

She burns.

Now the woman I claimed as a tool is turning into an obsession I can’t shake. I test her. Train her. Push her. Watch her bleed for me, bite for me, fight for the place I gave her. And every time she survives, I want her more.

She thinks she can earn her freedom.

I’m going to make her beg for something else.

Read on for enemies-to-allies tension, forced proximity, vampire prince obsession, espionage training, and a human tribute who refuses to kneel set in Protheka. When power is a game of blood and secrets, he won’t just claim her—he’ll weaponize her. HEA guaranteed.