A scorching forbidden love threatens to tear a rift through the Black Dagger Brotherhood in J R Ward's newest novel in the 1 New York Times bestselling series Xcor leader of the Band of Bastards convicted of treason against the Blind King is facing a brutal interrogation & torturous death at the hands of the Black Dagger Brotherhood Yet after a life marked by cruelty & evil deeds he accepts his soldier's 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 Xcor's life But revealing his sacrifice & his hidden heritage will expose them both & destroy everything Layla holds dear
- even her role of mother to her precious young Torn between love & 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 & 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 & death As a dangerous old enemy returns to Caldwell & 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