When the Ravos Kingdom invades the Nyrial Empire, Prince Shade Cross must produce the antidote to save his species and lead the two warring nations to peace while battling his own demons and his touch of death. ------------------- The Ravos Phoenixians have come to invade the Nyrial Empire for being mistreated by the Draconians over the past half century. The Curse is eating away at their humanity and turning them into blood-sucking monsters while poisoning them with a venom so lethal it's making their essences even darker and more sinister. Along with the help of the sister he shares with Zoran Masters, Shade is trying to create the antivenom with Elora to reverse the Curse infecting his kingdom. When Shade threatens to steal Emperor Nepheus' power, Armaeda is forced to obey his command and destroy the bond between Princess Aeryn and her Champion, Zoran. Shade's new wife regards him with hostile repulsion for severing her connection with Zoran. Aeryn keeps him at a dagger's distance even while their thrones sit next to each other. Shade's burning desire to get close to the one woman he can touch without killing her is increasing the more she fights their growing attraction. Aeryn's mother, the once Empress Caerwyn, has risen from the ashes along with the full-blooded Phoenixians who were killed in the explosion on Azmar. They are back for revenge against the Draconians and will not stop until the emperor succumbs to their reign of wrath - not even when Aeryn is the first to fall. SEQUEL TO "WHEN IT REIGNS"