"I should kill you for betraying me," he said. "Well, I think you will have to get much better first," she said calmly. "You lack the strength to kill me right now." Nevertheless, she took a small step backwards. Sold to the temple of the goddess Xochiquetzal as a child, Papalopil serves as a temple dancer and part-time courtesan and is determined to buy her freedom. In order to do so, she is told by the elder priestess to study warriors and become skilled at serving them. She becomes fixated on Lord Atlatzin, leader of the Emperor's Jaguar Warriors, who has taken a public vow of chastity. They never should have crossed paths. But when the calendar wheel turns and the day foretold for the return of the god arrives, mountains floating on the sea touch shore, and strange creatures emerge with magical weapons that shoot fire. Emperor Moctezuma is unable to decide if the arrivals are gods or men. All anyone knows for sure is that they are marching toward the capital. Visions in an ancient crystal warn Lord Atlatzin of what is to come, but the Emperor still cannot act. It is her deception that initially brings them together, a deception that could cost her life. But as Cortés tears their world apart and plague creeps through the land, Papalopil and Atlatzin must learn to trust and even depend on each other in order to survive. The Fifth Sun is not a typical love story. Instead, it is a powerful story of love and loyalty, one set during the final days of the mighty Mexica Empire.