Edriss Blackwood has always been alone. Neglected. Abandoned. She converts this angst into action, wielding her vibrant imagination as both sword and shield, slashing through the malevolence slowly destroying her homeland. Her one light in the darkness is her steadfast protector, Lorcan James. It all began by a riverbank a decade ago when he found his best friend's little sister, broken and alone. What started as a matter of honor blossomed into an unshakeable bond between two passionate souls, forged in love, trust, and fierce loyalty. There was only rule: don't fall in love. Too bad hearts don't play by the rules. But the very thing that brought them together-honor-is what will tear them apart. Their friend Arwenna, extorted by the men waging war against Edriss's family, convinces a reluctant Lorcan to secretly pretend to be her lover, an elaborate, twisted ruse she claims is the only way to keep Edriss safe. The truth, however, is much more sinister. Edriss licks the wounds of her shattered heart by wading deeper into the war tearing the Westerlands apart. Reckless, and with nothing left to lose, there's no limit to what she'll do to bring down the men responsible. But one young woman alone cannot stand against pure evil. If Lorcan can't find a way to win back her faith, both Edriss and the Westerlands will be irrevocably consumed by the flames.