Elodie never dreamed of a lavish palace or a handsome prince. Growing up in the famine-stricken realm of Inophe, her deepest wish was to help her people survive each winter. So when a representative from a rich, reclusive kingdom offers her family enough wealth to save Inophe in exchange for her hand in marriage, she accepts without hesitation. Swept away to the glistening kingdom of Aurea, she is quickly enchanted by the beauty of its people - and of its prince. Too late, she discovers that Aurea's prosperity has been purchased at a heavy cost - each harvest season, the kingdom sacrifices its princesses to a bloodthirsty dragon. And Elodie is next.