For months, a shaky truce had held between the vampires and werewolves, forged in blood after centuries of war. Viktor, a tall vampire with sharp features and eyes like polished obsidian, stood guard outside the princess's chambers. His job was simple: protect Lira, the werewolf princess, at all costs. One slip, one breach of the peace, and the fragile agreement would shatter, dragging both races back into slaughter.

Viktor had seen enough death in his three hundred years. His pale skin ...