Sarathena Remillus, daughter of the newly elected Primus of the Republic of Temboria, has been given a mission: discover the secret of slave magic. Anxious to escape the corruption and treachery of the capital, Sara welcomes the chance to finally prove herself far away in Kandrith, the tiny nation of former slaves.

Accompanying her on the journey is Lance, a Kandrithan to whom Sara owes her life. Lance despises the nobility, and is determined to resist his desire for Sara, despite her attempts to entice him into divulging the secret of his magic.

Soon their travels become fraught with peril, and Sara discovers she's fallen victim to the ultimate betrayal. To end a war between two nations, she will have to make the ultimate sacrifice...

134,000 words

Nicole Luiken grew up on a farm in northern Alberta--way, way North. She wrote her first book at age thirteen and was published while still in high school. The author of nine YA novels, she has recently branched out into adult SF/fantasy. She lives in Edmonton with her husband and three children. It is physically impossible for her to go more than three days in a row without writing. Her website can be found at www.nicoleluiken.com

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