My best friend, Liam Mattison, was born with snow in his veins.

Me? Ice.

Maybe that’s why my eyes are this color. Maybe it’s because I was born in Caribou, where there’s more snow than sun.

I always knew I had a chill within me, but after my time with the army, that chill froze over. I saw and did things most people couldn’t fathom. I made contacts with people who were more beast than man.

I came home altered, and there was no going back.

Except I did. It had to be done, and I didn’t regret it.

But now I’m thrust back into a world where people had forgotten my name. Back into a past I walked away from.

Memories of all the things I’ve done, of the people I’ve left behind, are floating to the surface.

The late-night summons wasn’t really unexpected.

The request was.

Saying no is impossible when you’re the only man equipped for the job. Saying no is difficult when what you really want to say is yes.

So here I am, past and present colliding with a woman I intentionally left behind. A woman who needs me to keep her alive.

I made a promise, and I will keep it.

Even if I die doing it. Even if it means the ice inside me goes subzero.