A brand-new story from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author L A Cotton, set in the angsty and gritty Darling Hill series. Celeste Rowe is lucky. At least, that’s what everyone thinks. Rich, beautiful, and smart, she has it all. She knows one thing though: the heart is a treacherous thing. It wants what it wants. You can try to fight it. Ignore it. But in the end, it’ll ruin you. Zane Washington is doomed. At least, that’s what it feels like. Poor, cynical, and desperate, he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He knows one thing though: the heart is a treacherous thing. It wants what it wants. You can try to resist it. Avoid it. But in the end, it will break you. On paper, they couldn’t be more different. But Celeste and Zane are about to discover that, sometimes, the very thing you shouldn’t want, is the only thing you need. And maybe it’s time for love to defy the odds. * These Defiant Souls is a standalone story set in the Darling Hill world. Due to mature content, this book is recommended for readers 17+