For twenty-one years, Talia of the Tenth House has been her house's deepest shame. Now, she's their last hope.

Each year at the Tournament of Gold, first-blooded and firstborn male warriors battle alongside their massive, otherworldly monsters for fame and power. But when Talia's beloved younger brother is murdered on his way to the tournament—and his beast unexpectedly bonds with Talia—all hope for the Tenth is lost.

The powerful, arrogant, and dangerously seductive Fortiss of the First House would never let a woman vie for a seat on the Court of Talons. He might also be her brother's killer. Desperate for answers and to protect her house, Talia assumes her brother's identity and enters the tournament.

But beneath the pomp and glory of this year's battles, Talia discovers a dark conspiracy carefully crafted to destroy the entire realm. In an ever-more-deadly dance across gilded ballrooms and brutal fighting pits, she must sacrifice her heart, her freedom, and even the precious, mystical bond she's formed with her glorious monster to win at all costs.

Because only Talia understands the truth:

If she's discovered…she dies.

If she loses…she dies.

And if she doesn't stop the evil screaming toward them through the shadows…everyone dies.

Next to her beauty, I'm nothing but a beast. That doesn't change my job.Lauren Grant, pain-in-the-ass celebutante and best friend of the future queen of O?ros, has a problem. She's caught the eye of a billionaire ballbreaker who won't take no for an answer, and the crown needs me to keep her safe. I may be just a rough-edged demigod more comfortable with dive bars than diamonds, but I sure as Hades will keep this jackal from getting his claws into the icy blonde. Then I learn Lauren's wannabe boyfriend is actually a minion of the creeper god Typhon—avowed enemy of my own great-great forebear, Zeus. Yeah, no. Even if I didn't have my orders, I'd take on this challenge just for fun. Then, little by little, I realize things aren't exactly what they seem with the haughty American. She's hiding real terror behind her perfect fa?ade, unwilling or unable to let anyone in. The more I learn, the more protecting Lauren Grant becomes my only goal. I'll tease her—tempt her—do whatever it takes to keep her safely by my side. I just can't fall in love with her.This book was previously released as a contemporary romance and told a story that hid the true nature of the royal family as gatekeepers of the gods. By order of Olympus, this book has been updated to set the record straight.

I've given the gods everything. They're not getting her, too.

As the chief diplomatic ambassador of O?ros, there's no challenge I won't accept from the crown. No task too dirty, no op too dangerous. After all, I was committed to serving this country by Hermes himself—and as a demigod of trickery, subterfuge and adventure, I know life is the ultimate game.

Then the crown asks me to team up with a daredevil American who sets my blood boiling and my teeth on edge, the two of us assigned a dangerous mission to find the long-lost royal son. How can I protect this woman who tempts the fates so brazenly, always taking the most dangerous course, the most foolhardy leaps, and never seeming to care if the next adventure will be her last?

I'll just have to give her something to live for.