Dynastic marriages can be deadly. Her unique knowledge keeps her safely unwed. Until her greatest strength becomes her fatal weakness.

Royal Princesses are born to be bartered, and Christal of Larrochar learned long ago that to marry was to risk her life. At twenty-eight she’s resolutely unwed, trusted assistant to the King’s Cultivator and an expert grower of rare plants.

Christal’s surety is elan, the mysterious golden bean-shaped nugget with miraculous healing properties. Neighboring Caldermor controls it. Christal’s papa covets it. And Christal has dedicated her life to unlocking its secrets. So when spoiled princeling Daire of Caldermor proposes marriage, there’s no doubt elan is at the root of his interest. Christal’s value is her knowledge, and suddenly she’s worth more married than unwed.

As Christal searches desperately for an escape neither Caldermor nor Larrochar will allow, she discovers that marriage will be the death of her—and the prince and his bodyguard too—unless she can claim her future by unearthing the secrets of the past.

Some secrets are too dangerous to share

Annis Benkith sacrificed her future as a healer to prevent her tribe’s ruthless leaders from exploiting her powers. But when an energy-sick nobleman visits the Kith’s trading camp, she covertly reads his lifeshadow and barters her help for a new life in the lowlands.

The fascinating blueblood is Daire, crown prince of Caldermor. At his side Annis can be valued, even happy—provided she can keep him alive. She uses her own life to save his, unaware that her desperate act will leave Daire unable to fulfill his duties under a vital, age-old pact. If Daire’s stewardship fails, Caldermor will fall.

Daire is offered a reprieve if he banishes Annis. Instead, he vows to keep her close and save the Legacy. But as time runs out, Annis must choose whether to leave the life—and the man—she has grown to love… or risk everything on her last, most fiercely guarded, secret.