Layla Campbell • four years after her boyfriend dies she's left to raise her three year old by herself. Her job allows her to provide everything necessary they may need, but she won't allow herself one thing: love, which goes against the promise she made. Lorenzo Romanoff • struggling with finding his reason to keep going and stop drinking. The day he meets his brothers lawyer and her little boy that changes. He finds his reason to resist temptation. ••• "I don't want you to leave me." His fingers stop brushing my hair when my confession leaves my lips. "I don't want to leave you, but I have to. I'm sorry, I'm so fucking sorry." I grip his hospital gown and let out my silent cries as my body shakes. His arms tightens around me trying to comfort me, he knows nothing can. He's dying, and nothing is going to stop that. ••• "I do that a lot, you can't fool me." He says in a softer tone. I clear my throat and look away, the way he's looking at me's making me feel like he can read me as clear as a book, "Do what?" He gets closer to me making my eyes flicker to him, "You don't have to pretend Layla." For some reason it feels though as if I should whisper, "Who said I was pretending?" "Your smile," he murmurs, his eyes drop to my lips making a frown settle on his face. "It's so beautiful when you smile," his finger runs along my bottom lip, "but this one? Darling, this one is fake."

The Bloodhollows-a group of rebels whose sole purpose in life is to stir up trouble in the royal court-have seemed to find themselves in need of a certain assassin, whether they like it or not. 17 year-old assassin and Blade of Raynelle for King Stryker of House Lythe, Sage Duras is a stubborn, merciless, and dangerous woman. Her choices were not hers to make-for she made them solely to survive. Sage has a reputation that inspires fear amongst the courts of lords and ladies, and her prestige has never been damaged for the 5 years she has worked for the King-until the corrupt Prince. Prince Cypher Lythe and The Blade of Raynelle have never gotten along-but after uncovering the Blade's deepest secret, they seem to have no choice but to embark on a journey to save the people of the Realm. The Prince is royally disliked amongst the courts-even gaining the title of Fallen Shadow. But the people of Raynelle adore him, and the corrupt Prince would love nothing more than to get his revenge on those who have caused him pain. The question is-will The Blade of Raynelle help the Fallen Shadow-or betray him?