Death has always tried to shove a homemade shiv past my ribs. I'm a monster hunter, so death is no stranger. Now, as I languish in this dank cell deep in the heart of Fae, He's so close I can smell His breath. It smells of cinnamon. Wears the face of the Shadow Court's dark enforcer. Gorgeous, powerful, and utterly ruthless. Just to prove a point, he executes the only friend I have here before he turns his violent eye to mine.

In that instant before he prowls toward me, I know I might never make it out of this realm alive. Might never see my sister again or be there to protect her when this brute is tasked to execute her as well because I dared try to undermine his boss.

"Scream," he whispers into my ear. As if this is all just a show. A production meant to scare the monster hunter into behaving. But I've seen the violence done to my friend. I know she's dead because of me, and I know when the blow comes, it's going to hurt-badly.

Except...it doesn't. I feel nothing. And that has to be worse.

Because in that one moment of mercy, his dark eyes meet mine, and everything changes...