A Shadow Demon, hell-bent on protecting his city... Alexei Petrov has more money than he can ever spend in many lifetimes, but his life is more than glitz and glamour. Behind the scenes, Alex is part of an elite group working in the shadows, hunting down those who would prey on the most vulnerable in the city. Which is how he found the most desirable women he's ever seen. A young mother in fear for the life of her child... Merrily fled with her daughter with death on her heels. She has no idea what her father has done, but he's managed to throw her and little Bellarose into the middle of a war. Scared, hunted, Merrily gets caught in the crossfire of what looks like a gang war, but it's something far more sinister. A desperate flight lands her in the arms of Alexie Petrov. Literally. And the man is everything she knows she can never have but wants with every fiber of her being. Nowhere to hide... Even tucked safely away in the home of the richest, most powerful man in the city of Rockwell, Merrily's past finally catches up with her. Bellarose's father has come calling, and hell is hot on his heels. Fleeing seems like her only option, but Alex is just as dangerous as anything headed her way. And far too seductive and possessive for her peace of mind. Though she knows he will only break her heart, Merrily can't resist the lust that burns between them and soon finds herself more than infatuated with the man. Needing to prove her worth, Merrily knows she's up for the challenge. Welcomes it. But just who are the demons in the night? And why does she welcome this one's embrace?