The stars will fall from the sky before you see the day I yield. Roman (plural) A payment of time, effort, or money to undo past transgression(s). I’m paying for the sins I’ve committed against the leaders of Synd and I’m failing miserably. Restitution in our world often comes with a bullet in the head, but they’ve demanded something else. Something more. I didn’t think it would be hard to muddle my way through ruling in their stead. Until Ember Hayes showed up, dragging with her every memory I buried long ago. I haven’t seen her since I threw her out of my house ten years ago for her involvement in my sister’s death. Despite the pull between us, I can’t afford to be drawn into her orbit. Nothing will change between us, no matter what fate demands. I just didn’t realize my payment to fate would be my heart. Ember (archaic) The act of renewing, restoring, etc., or the state of being renewed or repaired. For ten years I’ve been searching for my best friend. Guilt is my only companion as I skip from city to city. Yet I still haven’t found her. When I stumble into Synd, my resolve is waning—exhausting weighing me down. I don’t have it in me to repair my relationship with Roman Drake. We’re forever at odds and nothing will change that, no matter what happens between us. When I ran from him the first time, I took my shattered heart with me. This time, I might end up leaving it behind with him.