A broken woman. A lonely monster. A bargain written in blood. Astoria has lost everything. Her husband, her daughter, and now—thanks to the mushroom-like monsters known as Rholctai—her home. Forced to flee, her forbidden magic marks her for death if she ever returns to human lands. Her only refuge is a seemingly abandoned village deep in Rholctai territory. Mairuk has lived alone for almost a decade, until they stumble upon Astoria. A human. An enemy. Or perhaps, an opportunity. She is soft and full of magic. Magic they can use. They will allow her to live on one she never leaves. Leaving her past behind feels like a betrayal to those Astoria loved. Mairuk is an enemy, a monster, and not someone Astoria should want. No matter how darkly beautiful they are. Caught between her desire to move on and the depth of her grief, Astoria can’t decide if she wants Mairuk as her lover or the one who finally puts an end to her suffering.