xcor leader of the band of bastards convicted of treason against the blind king is facing a brutal interrogation and torturous death at the hands of the black dagger brotherhood yet after a life marked by cruelty and evil deeds he accepts his soldiers fate his sole regret the loss of a sacred female who was never his the chosen layla layla alone knows the truth that will save xcors life but revealing his sacrifice and his hidden heritage will expose them both and destroy everything layla holds deareven her role of mother to her precious young torn between love and loyalty she must summon the courage to stand up against the only family she has for the only man she will ever love yet even if xcor is somehow granted a reprieve he and layla would have to confront a graver challenge bridging the chasm that divides their worlds without paving the way for a future of even greater war desolation and death as a dangerous old enemy returns to caldwell and the identity of a new deity is revealed nothing is certain or safe in the world of the black dagger brotherhood not even true love or destinies that have long seemed set in stone