Nikolai Lantsov is the king of Ravka; also korol rezni, the "king of scars". The too-clever Fox; the bastard king. Nikolai is charming, brilliant, handsome... and dangerous, for a fraction of the Darkling's power still sleeps within him. A shadow beast that comes out when he sleeps, that he can't control. If a cure for the monster isn't found, and soon, politics and finding Nikolai a bride will be the least of Ravka's worries.