King by Rachel Grey

Rue
I put up a good fight. Fate dealt me a raw deal, but I escaped it for a while, enjoying a brief taste of freedom and love. Now, I’m back where I started, but no one can take those memories from me. Especially since I’ve returned with a tangible piece of them–Vaegon, my pup.
I may have been dragged back to the path originally laid out for me, but no one will ever take Vaegon away. Even fate couldn’t be that cruel, could it?

Durin
The elves are convinced that Vaegon is the key to the realm’s future. Rue and I are stuck in the dark, not knowing where he is or how long he’ll be there, or if he’ll even be the same when he returns.
All I want is to be with Rue. She needs comfort. She needs me. But if I want to end her suffering, I’ll have to devote most of my time to a battle I’m not sure I even want to fight anymore.
I’m left with no choice. I’ll fulfill my duty, but not out of revenge against the queen, not for the realm’s freedom, and not even because it’s the right thing to do. I’m fighting to reclaim my son and build a world where no one would dare threaten my family again.

King is the conclusion to Book 1 of the Noble Reckoning series, Consort, and cannot be read as a standalone.