All my life, I’ve worked to become a palace partner, so when a new administrator selects me to be his, I plan to devote myself to his happiness. But Gabriel isn’t from the Capitol. He isn’t even from the Central Cities, which—forty-five years after a global cataclysm—is the only truly safe place in the world. He’s from the wilderness, and he doesn’t understand palace culture. He doesn’t even want a partner, but he’s stuck with me anyway. My job is to soften his life in any way he desires, but he believes there’s something wrong with the system. He only sees complications when the truth is very simple. And entirely reciprocal. He takes care of me, and I make him feel good.

I never set out to be a leader. I only fought to survive in a cruel, broken world. But now I lead a rebel group, plotting and acting against the oppressive Central Cities government. It's important work, and it's the only thing that can matter to me. At my right hand has always stood Ben. He's my second, my advisor, my friend, and often my bodyguard. He's never let me down. But something is changing. He's wanting more. From me. From us. But yielding in this would disrupt our mission and possibly our world. He's always at my side, but he can never be in my heart.