In chess, the queen is the most powerful piece on the board. She can move anywhere, take anyone, and she protects her king, fiercely. In this book, it's no different. Penny is the most important piece on this chessboard and she will do anything she can to protect her king, Damon. She's not going to let anyone, up to and including his psychopath of a father, hurt him without having to go through her.

Three years after the end of The King, Penny is at college, living in Avery's hotel. She and Avery have become really good friends. Her dad calls her weekly, just to check in, and also because Damon is making him. One night she doesn't hear from her dad. She goes to spend the night with Avery, and ends up sleeping in the same bed with Avery. When Penny wakes up in the morning, Avery is gone. There's no sign as to where she has gone. Penny calls Gabriel and tells him what happened. A few days later, she walks into Damon's club in Tanglewood.

Damon isn't pleased to see her there. He keeps trying to keep his distance, but they both know that it isn't going to last. Penny tries to get Damon's help to find Avery and then things start to happen.

This is such a satisfying and fulfilling end to Penny and Damon's story. For so many years they have been drawn together as magnets, with the nature of their relationship changing as Penny got older and more mature. They are finally able to get to a place where they can both be happy, safe, and secure. Penny definitely deserves her crown, and Damon needs his queen beside him. ( )