A review by checknationallibrary
Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole

5.0

2018: I think i've mentioned this in a few reviews, but my favorite books are the ones that give me a physical stomach ache. Hear me out: The books that have this hold on me are ones that have two characters that are perfectly paired for each other than encounter an obstacle that is maybe avoidable, but believable as one is holding back or sacrificing for the other without their knowledge. Trehan is a good man who loves Bett (also, Tina is a stupid nickname for Bettina and that alone should make Cas not good enough for her). Cas is a tool who not only really puts Bett in the friend zone (she doesn't listen to him either, so for them, the friend zone is a real place) but also holds her to deeply unfair double standards. Tre works hard to win the contest, her heart, her safety, and the stability of his home while not wanting to show anyone what he's doing. On the opposite side, Bett fights for her courage and independence against ancient and unbeatable odds.

Also, public sex shaded by Dacian myst? Hell yes.