There are those who say queens have a privileged life. They've never reviewed Queen Retta's. The king distrusts her. Rumors of treason hound her. The Duke of Petidar discovered her most dangerous secret. And all that was before she caught her husband with his mistress - the same woman who had framed Retta for treason the day before.

But Retta has a plan. Sure, it's crazy, dangerous, and probably suicidal. Yet she's headed to the Sacred Mountains with her friends to execute it. For the next month, she gets a respite from the madness she's left behind. Although when she returns, she'll have to betray the love of her life - an unfortunate reality that he hates but understands.

Even though she's not at the palace, she can't help asking the obvious and difficult questions. What happens when they return? Will Lucian buy her lie? And the biggest one of all - what happens if the plan fails?

This fantasy romance continues the tale of a strong heroine, a seductive hero, and loyal friends. The second of six books, Queen must be read after Knight.