Luna, a._ mixed‑b loo$_d Beta, is use^d as a scapeg%oat by her family. She is off:=#er(#ed up in place (o%
f her ar+/rogant -+olde r sister S(?el@;en a to Kael, the S%[h!adow Lord, who is r^]/umored to [ be terrifying‑looking \@and whose partne ``rs` never _ +\survive more than t$##,h#ree %yea-rs.
In  t[ he gra)` n;d]: hall of the Shad@\ow Citadel, she ()wi[^t]n@(*esses the tyrant writhing in a?]_ ,gony as da^rk :%cr[i_[mson \
=(curse run(*$:es devour h\ i-)s bo\dy. By chance, ;[her to uch%=\: c* ause-)s t^)he curse marks to crack an#d fade@.! — she i,s
#  th=*e li)ving +ant*=idote. he has sought=; for thre+e hun=^]d?+,red years.
Ag[ains
:t her will, he pins her upon* hi(@s throne and] hurls he#\r onto; the ca-!(rpet, fo@ rcin()\(g he*+):r, t o endure both agon)+y and pl ;ea!;sure*. Three days la !#ter, he pers!!#onally sends )#]her i
=nt%o t./he M)(/oon!\l@@it Trial$ @s, forcing her to stand before the entire, @;no_`]bili@ ty^ with `h%^er l@)ow‑sta/!tus mi`\x? ed=-‑_`,blood heritag)e.
When her sis( ter p-?ub]`lic,ly+$= smashes her[@) -t`ournament insignia and sneers that -$it is a co@unterfeit\[, ?
the myst e/$r_ious sup+reme lor.=d in his silvery‑white ma.[@s``k ste?__ps,.. out f?$r!;o/m th :_e crowd.. His d_$ee]]p vo;]ice rumbles: +“A\]? +*tok%,en bestowed by my o#*wn han ,d.$, a!+\nd you dar)e+*` call i(
t co:unterfeit?”