'I'dlearnedthehardwaythatloveisnothingmorethanthesharpestblade,anditcaneasilybeturnedagainstyou.Irefusedtoletanyonehavethatkindofpowerovermeeveragain.'Darianhaslivedaloneforalmostacenturyintheshadowsofthenight.Madeandabandonedbyherformerlove,Darianisthelastofherkind-animmortalShaedewhocanslipintodarknessaseasilyasbreathing.Withnooneelsetorelyon,shehastaughtherselfhowtosurvive,usingheruniqueskillstobecomeadeadlyassassin.Darianfindsherselfstrugglingtokeepheremployer,Tyler,atarm'slength,especiallysincehisseductivesimilemakesherwanttobreakherrulesaboutlove.Theworkheoffersisnecessarytoprotecttheinnocent-andawelcomedistraction.ButwhenDarian'snextmarkturnsouttobeXanderPeck,KingoftheShaedeNation,herwholeworldviewisthrownintoquestion.Darianbeginstowonderifshehastakenonmorethanherconsciencewillallow,butagoodassassinneverleavesajobunfinished...