Rotten to the Core For twenty years, Auradon has known peace—but not kindness. Its ruler, King Lucian Beaumont, the only son of Beauty and Beast, is nothing like the compassionate royals before him. Towering, cold, and feared throughout every kingdom, Lucian governs with an iron fist. Mercy is weakness. Compassion is a luxury. Order comes first. He makes a decision that shocks the kingdom. He will bring four villain children to Auradon. Not to save them. To prove even the worst of them can be controlled. The chosen four are the infamous children of Auradon’s greatest enemies: Cruella’s cunning son, Jafar’s silver-tongued son, the Evil Queen’s ambitious daughter… and the one every villain fears to cross— Guest. The daughter of Maleficent. Raised beneath dragon fire and dark magic, Guest has become a legend on the Isle before adulthood. Ruthless. Brilliant. Untouchable. Even the other VKs know better than to challenge her. She isn’t merely Maleficent’s daughter—she’s the heir to her terror. To Auradon, she’s a monster wearing a crown of horns. To the Isle, she’s the queen they’ve never officially named. But neither side knows the truth. King Lucian didn’t choose the four VKs out of hope. He chose them because he believes the most dangerous monsters are easier to watch when they’re inside his castle.