Alexandria Thorne has always known escaping her fate was impossible.

In accordance with an ancient treaty, the eldest Thorne daughters are presented as gifts for the bloodthirsty leaders of the Gallanx Quadrant. In reality, her position is no more than a glorified sacrificial bride in exchange for her people's protection. Though she doesn’t plan to fight her fate, she definitely won’t be accepting it like the gracious lady she was raised to be.

The man she’s gifted to is vindictive, and inappropriately suggestive. By a stroke of luck, she survived their first meeting and stumbled upon the only object on their ship that can protect her. With it she remains hidden for as long as possible, and never passes on an opportunity to antagonize her captor.

Braxon Roane has always known his path would be stained with blood.

From the moment his father learned of Alexandria’s existence, his life became more nightmarish than it already was. As his Quadrant's heir, he was expected to ruthlessly purge the cosmos of any weaknesses and impurities. Now, after years of diabolic training, he finds himself tossed on a dying ship with an unwanted wife.

Her attitude alone was enough to bait his resentment, yet there was something unshakably alluring about her character. Battling his volatile nature and inner demons, he finds himself tempted to let her live despite his father's barbaric demands. The longer he stalls, the more life-threatening their situation becomes, hurtling them towards the edge of an oblivion they can’t come back from.

He should hate her, the object of his agony. She should fear him, the criminal she’s bound to. But the tension brewing between them threatens to shatter every expectation they’ve been taught to have. Their actions eventually break the fragile treaty, forcing them to come together, or come undone.