A narrow escape from the love of Ayla’s past, Ragnar, leaves her and her crew in hiding, and desperate for answers. 

The prison that Ragnar built for Ayla isn’t a physical one, it's inside her head, and if she doesn’t get rid of it she’s going to die. But when the solution lies behind Ragnar’s armada, on a distant water planet, there’s only one chance of getting there; trusting Leith’s ex, Rawiya. 

The beautiful and clever diplomat betrayed Leith once before, but if Ayla is going to slip under Ragnar’s armada, she’ll need to help Rawiya overthrow a tyrant. Leith’s homeworld Gallus is under the yoke of the Skarlatos leader, Torin. When Torin demands water resources from Aquacore, the company Ragnar uses to control the galaxy, Rawiya will do anything to make peace. 

Even trust Leith again. 

But Ayla doesn’t. She’ll keep her secrets, as will Leith, Kabe, Casey, and Sylas, but playing a game of politics may end up leading to a war they can’t fight. 

Stuck between Torin’s lust for power, and Ragnar’s forces flying overhead, Ayla’s fast running out of options that will keep them all alive if they stay, but if they run away then she’ll die.