Chapter 1

On the day I was reborn, back at the royal bride selection, my older sister Amelia immediately claimed Lysander, the husband I'd had in my previous life.

He was the serpent King's illegitimate son.

Watching her cling to Lysander's arm in wild delight, I knew my sister had been reborn too.

In our previous life, Amelia, the elder daughter of House Ellison, had immediately chosen Draco Ashford, the rightful heir.

Draco was famously cold. He never once touched her after the wedding, then died in battle in the North less than a month later.

Amelia was widowed young and became the laughingstock of the entire shifter world.

As the second daughter, I was forced to marry the illegitimate son, Lysander.

Once Draco died, my husband Lysander inherited the throne, and I became the kingdom's celebrated Queen.

Driven mad by jealousy, Amelia stabbed me to death in broad daylight.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the banquet where King Alaric Ashford's two sons would choose their brides.

Everyone assumed that as the eldest daughter, Amelia would choose Draco, who held the right of succession.

No one expected her to choose Lysander without a second thought.

“Everyone knows Prince Draco was born to rule. He needs a woman strong enough to stand beside him. But I'm... I'm not that woman. I only want a kind husband and a peaceful home. I believe Prince Lysander is my soulmate.”

Lysander clearly hadn't expected the eldest daughter of House Ellison to choose an overlooked bastard like him.

Lysander recovered at once, arranging his face into an awed, lovestruck smile. "Lady Amelia, being chosen by you is the greatest honor of my life. I swear I'll cherish you until my dying breath."

Watching the two of them parade their nauseating devotion in front of the room, I nearly lost my dinner.

Amelia shot me a provocative look, and in that moment, I knew she had been reborn too.

I held her gaze. If only you knew what Lysander really was.

"Since Amelia has chosen Lysander, then..." The King raised a hand, silencing the whispers. "Elena Ellison, Draco will be your betrothed."

When Amelia had chosen Draco in our previous life, he hadn't offered so much as a polite word. He had simply ignored his new fiancee, turned, and walked away, leaving her alone in the center of the hall.

Everyone knew Draco was proud and aloof, never one to spare anyone's feelings. That had been my sister's greatest humiliation in her past life.

I braced myself for the same cold dismissal. Instead, Draco crossed the room, slipped off his custom-tailored jacket, and settled it gently around my shoulders.

"You'll catch cold dressed like that. I couldn't stand it." Draco's voice was a low, velvet rumble.

Then, before the stunned eyes of the entire room, he slowly knelt on one knee and produced a priceless black diamond ring from his pocket.

"Elena." He bowed his head and pressed a reverent kiss to my knuckles. "I've waited a long time to call you my fiancee."

What did he just say? He'd been waiting a long time?

I was still reeling when Draco rose and drew me against him, one arm locked around my waist. The gesture was possessive, almost imperious, yet impossibly gentle.

"Father, since my fiancee has been chosen, Elena and I will take our leave."

He gave no one time to object. Without even glancing at Amelia's twisted face, Draco swept me into his arms and carried me out of the hall, honoring me in front of them all.

I turned to look at Draco's chiseled profile, and my heart pounded out of control.

Already, this life was veering onto a completely different path.