Every queen deserves a crown. Every kingdom has its secrets. And every fool knows when to lie. Queen Isolode has never been a woman easily controlled. Beautiful, proud, and dangerously accustomed to getting her way, she rules her kingdom with a sharp tongue, an iron will, and little patience for those who believe they know what is best for her. Her council demands propriety, her noblemen seek her favor, and the expectations of the crown threaten to suffocate the very woman who wears it. Then there is Vex. Her infuriatingly handsome court jester, whose wicked smile, silver tongue, and complete disregard for royal etiquette make him both the most entertaining and most dangerous man in her court. He bows when it pleases him, mocks those who deserve it, and speaks to his queen with a familiarity that would cost any other man his head. And Isolode finds herself utterly fascinated. What begins as an intoxicating game of flirtation and defiance soon becomes something neither the crown nor her council can contain. As whispers spread through the palace and jealous nobles begin plotting against the jester who has captured their queen's attention, Isolode finds herself torn between the expectations of her throne and the one man who refuses to treat her like a porcelain ornament. But Vex is no ordinary fool. Behind his painted mask and mischievous laughter lies something ancient, powerful, and terrifyingly patient. He knows secrets about Isolode's kingdom that no mortal should possess, and his devotion to his beautiful queen is far more dangerous than she could ever imagine. For beneath the glittering chandeliers, extravagant masquerades, and gilded halls of her beloved palace, something is terribly wrong. Time is running out. And the greatest deception of all may be the paradise she believes she rules. In a kingdom built upon beautiful lies, even love may come at a hellish price.