As the new girl from the south side of town going to a prestigious academy for my senior year, I never expected welcoming open arms. But the bloody nose on my first day was a surprise. And the threat. And the...well, let me just say behind the botoxed smiles and shiny sports cars were the worst sort of people. And there was one that brought them to their knees. One who ruled Green Hills Academy like the monarchs he descended from. Knight King hated me. Hated what I represented. Hated that I wasn't wealthy and that I dared to enter his world.

My reputation at Fairview University preceded me. I was the projected number-one pick in the NHL draft and the fan favorite at the rink. People wanted to be me or be with me. Except for Lyla James Marichal.

I had a foolproof plan. Finish college playing the best sport on earth. Hockey. Get drafted by an NHL team. Make my senator father at least a little proud of me. I was on track to do just that…until Violet Reece and I collided. Literally.

I've spent my entire eighteen years fighting to survive. My junky mom disappeared years ago, leaving me to fend for myself against my evil drug-dealing step-brother. I never met my father. I don't even know his name. All I wanted to do was survive and graduate high school to get as far away from the Villas and this run-down trailer park as possible. I was doing that until he forced himself into my life and literally flipped my world upside down. He's from the Valley where the richest of the rich live—a bully in every sense of the word.

We come from high society, but the grooming process starts in high school. And we always recruit in the dark. As a result, our messes are rarely clean and never brought to light. Money's not an issue, and usually, neither are our members. Until one decides to betray us. Let this be a lesson to our initiates: Never choose love over loyalty.