I thought I was going to be killed. Instead I was claimed. Death might have been preferable.My world shifts in a heartbeat when Valkus rescues me from a brutal assault. But he's no knight in shining armor.He's a predator, and I've become his prey.Valkus needs a mate. His offer? My hand in (fake) marriage in exchange for his protection. It's risky, but what choice do I have? But the lines quickly blur...What was meant to be a deception turns dangerously real. I'm falling for him - a forbidden, fatal game. Any deal with a dark elf is a high-stakes gamble. It could cost me everything. But I've already bet my life, and now, I'm ready to risk even more.My heart.Author's This is a dark fantasy romance with a cruel and morally grey dark elf who will do anything to protect his claimed human mate. HEA guaranteed.