Glow

The premise of the Plated Prisoner series is an inversion of the King Midas myth in which Midas doesn’t have the golden touch. Rather, the touch belongs to a gold-skinned girl named Auren.

In Gild, Auren is an orphan whom Midas rescues from the streets when she is 15. He tells everyone he has the power to transform objects to gold, and Auren’s golden skin is presumed proof of his claims. After becoming king, he keeps Auren in a golden cage for 10 years. He then uses her as a bargaining chip with the king of Fifth Kingdom to raise an army against Fourth Kingdom. Auren is abducted by pirates but uses her gold power to defend herself. She is carried off by Commander Rip (Slade in disguise), who treats her well, and she feels a growing attraction to him. Midas vows to get her back.

In Glint, Auren meets King Ravinger for the first time (also Slade in disguise). Her fae origins become apparent to Commander Rip because he is also fae. Ravinger negotiates the return of Auren if Midas consents to give Ravinger the strip of land where Drollard Village is located.