Bloody Crown

A throne, a crown, and someone willing to do whatever it takes to claim it all...  His entire life, Prince Daren has been destined for the throne. The son of two royal dynasties, he was born to be King of Alaresti. With his seventeenth birthday and the ceremony that will confirm him as his father's heir looming, his future seems clear. Daren, however, isn't sure he's ready for the responsibility. Alaresti's Court has always been a tangle of politics and lies. Even his betrothed, Elessa, wants more than he can give. And with rumors circulating that he's unfit to rule, he faces a difficult choice between obeying his father or listening to his own heart. But only days after Daren comes of age, the king is murdered in his bed and the weight of the crown descends to rest on Daren's shoulders. As he steps up he is accused of treason and plotting his father's death, and the throne is taken from his grasp. Now he must clear his name and discover who is truly responsible if he wants to claim his birthright, before someone else takes it all.  This book is a prequel to the series, Rivalin's Heir. The first book in the series is The Fallen Prince. The Bloody Crown is not required to begin the series, but it is the suggested introduction point.Rivalin's Heir is not a completed series.