Odan can’t imagine a woman less suited to this mission, but he is reluctantly impressed with how hard she works to succeed at it. Delicate, haughty, with aggressive and decidedly fiery tendencies, she’s not his type. Until she is. Vivienne has hidden her true self for years, afraid to lose control of her future. As Odan strips away her masks one by one, she is surprised to discover she loves the world he opens up. He’s maddening, but tender, with a sexy, solid strength. Vivienne and Odan both know the burdens of leadership, living lonely lives of power and isolation. As they train together, their respect for one another grows … as does their attraction. Furiously working to bring down the lizard birds terrorizing the Cities, they make a beautiful, deadly pair. This enrages the darkmages who control the birds. Vivienne will have to flare brighter than she ever has before, even if it burns all her disguises away.