Book excerpt: Almena Guillory, better known as the Grizzly Queen of the West, has plenty to recommend her for the noose, but U.S. Marshal Apostle Richardson enforces the law, he doesn't decide it. When a posse tries to lynch Almena ahead of her trial, Apostle refuses their form of expedited justice-and receives a bullet for his trouble.Before escaping, however, Almena unexpectedly saves his life by absorbing his wound through the use of dangerous flesh magic. In the days of the Civil War, she served Lincoln personally, using this power to heal Union soldiers by taking on their injuries. Now she also uses it to kill.Weeks later, Apostle fears Almena is involved with a new gang terrorizing Kansas. Yet when he corners the outlaw queen, she makes a convincing case for her innocence. With a mind to capture the real bandits, Apostle reluctantly agrees to a partnership, not expecting the attraction that soon follows. Turning Almena away from her criminal ways may be out of the question, but if he doesn't try, she'll wind up right where the law wants her: at the end of a rope.And if Apostle isn't careful, he'll end up joining her.