The world as we know it ended 209 years ago. From a desert wasteland springs a single kingdom, ruled by a tyrannical King and trapped in an endless war against the shadowy desert warriors. As a desperate bid to save what remains of humanity, society has been split into two distinct classes, nicknamed the Court and the Commons. For an oppressed population on the brink of revolution, a common thief could be the last hope. Up until now, Kay has survived by her wits alone. Reckless and impulsive, wanted by the King's guard, Kay has become known as the Runner. Using the city's rooftops as her personal domain, she manages to keep one step ahead of the King with one hand buried in the purses of the courtiers. Driven by the plight of the commoners and the unjust death of her family, Kay seizes the chance to graduate from small-time thievery to full-scale rebellion. Her opportunity comes in the form of Will, a wealthy ex-soldier with a dark past. Plucked from the streets and thrown into the shimmering palace court, Kay must use her every strength to blend into a world where she doesn't belong, closer to the enemy than she ever thought she would be.

Best rank: #1 in Action! Included in Action's Featured List! Amelia Reyes has been raised within an orphanage her entire life, but she just recently broke free of their grasp. The men who raised her taught her the skills of a street fighter. They taught her to take pain. They taught her how to survive. They taught her to give no mercy. They showed her pain. They gave her the 564 that is engraved on her wrist. But that 564 is a reminder. A reminder of love, of mercy, of hope. They took her innocence and her freedom, but they did not take the fire in her heart. ______________________________________________________________________ Thanks to @captainmarvel165 for designing this beautiful cover, and thanks to @LeagueofGraphics who featured it in their book and for everything they helped with for this wonderful piece of art! © 2015-2016 Katherine Hinchley (Wattpad user -MidnightStories-) All Right Reserved. No parts of this story may be transmitted/plagiarized/copied through any means without the prior written consent of the author. Nor should any part of this publication be reproduced, modified, adapted, or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author. If you see a book similar or a copy of mine, please contact me via PM. _____________________________________________________________________ The pictures used throughout the story are not mine and all rights go to the owner/maker of the images.

Sometimes beautiful flowers wilt faster, leaving an empty ground and heart after they perish. - thanks to @vinyl- for the beautiful cover.