Book excerpt: After a long journey across Farzia, Kiara and friends have made it all the way to the province of Trisphede, where both the enemy nation Llewyne and their ally Salekhard have assembled their troops. But as luck would have it, they find themselves face-to-face with Kiara’s former groom-to-be and Achilles’ heel, the viscount of Credias! When she and Cain find themselves in a tight spot as they fight for their lives, Kiara comes up with a last-ditch plan: handing herself over to Isaac in exchange for her bodyguard’s safety. Will Reggie be able to save her from the king’s clutches before she’s forced to turn on her allies?