What if the job you took to stay alive might be what kills you? Kade knows what it is to suffer. He knows what it's like to lose everything and everyone around him. His job in a Stormer Unit guarantees not just his survival in the decimated country of Azetaria, but his sister Meg's. Even if it means facing the Numachi warriors baying for his blood, he'll do what it takes to keep her safe. Hadley is alone and surviving the only way she knows how. By hiding where predators won't find her and scavenging enough just to keep her alive. When desperation drives Hadley to search for her missing brother, she mistakenly accepts the offer of recruitment into the Stormer's camp, only to be partnered with Kade and sent as a scout into Numachi territory. The intimidating young Stormer may just know where her brother has gone. But can they stay alive long enough to find him?

How far would you go to protect those you love? Kade can’t catch a break. After a botched retrieval and another brutal encounter with Numachi warriors, he’s supposed to be relaxing at a peaceful retreat with his sister, Meg. Instead, he and the rest of his Stormer Unit are forced to defend their Captain and his family from bandits, intent on destroying everyone and everything Kade loves. After a rocky start, Hadley is still finding her feet as an honorary Stormer. The last thing she needs is to be caught up in a case of mistaken identity. But she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to leverage help to locate her brother. Even if it means leaving Kade when he needs her the most.

What if staying alive means saying goodbye to your family? Kade may have prevented an attack on his Captain's family, and worn the brunt of a brutal beating, but he's running out of time to escape a job he's starting to detest. Caught in a no-win situation, he's forced to choose between his own happiness or his sister Meg's. No matter what he does, his decision will tear his remaining family apart. Still homeless but accepting refuge with the Stormers, Hadley is given permission to travel into rival Stormers territory to find her missing brother. Things go from bad to worse when Kade's health deteriorates and she's forced to watch him face a threat that might just kill him. Hadley may get what she wanted, but at what cost?