**Carnival, canals, and cunning enemies… Do you dare enter Venice’s shifter side?** Ten years ago, lion shifter Tony Pelligrini was forced to flee Venice after being framed for a murder he didn’t commit. But now, a mysterious force is drawing him back. Is it the feeling of a ticking time bomb only he can defuse? Or is it the call of destiny, promising true love? Wetlands ecologist Cara Alari would rather stand knee-deep in mud than dress up for a fancy ball. But in the course of one crazy, carnival night, a family she loves is imperiled, and she is unwittingly drawn into a dangerous world of power, politics, and royal intrigues. Before Cara knows it, she’s putting her black belt to use as a bodyguard—and teaming up with a hunky lion shifter straight out of her dreams. The chemistry between them is off the charts, but there’s no time for *amore.* Somewhere in Venice, an enemy lurks, targeting the royal shifter elite. Because carnival masks can disguise faces and evil intentions, nothing is as it seems. All Cara can be sure of is that her heart—and a young woman’s life—are at risk.