Book excerpt: Rocked by an unexpected attack, Latvala and its citizens find themselves at the mercy of a man whose sole intent is to shake up the monarchy. Queen for less than a year, Chey must choose between protecting the man she loves and protecting her unborn child. It's a decision that threatens to tear the fabric of her family apart. Determined to overcome the odds, an embattled Chey proves she can still be wily, unpredictable and hard to control.Only time will tell if loyalty, trust and the strength of close friends can help overcome the chokehold of tyranny.