Book excerpt: Born in shame. Cast from society. Shifter/elf hybrid, Forest, must fight for any respect she can get. Targeted in her youth by a vampire noble who placed an illegal slave mark on her, she's forced to obey him no matter what. Assigned a black ops mission, Forest must put aside her own prejudice against vampires to transport the vampire prince, Syrus, through enemy territory in a time of war. Prince Syrus, mage and master of the Blood Kata, wants Forest more than he's ever wanted anything. In spite of their mutual mistrust, their attraction cannot be denied. Through the danger of their mission, and the secrets they both keep, it doesn't matter what they feel. Forest is forbidden.