For Olivia Madeleine, illegitimate daughter of a duke, her only hope of a better life away from her cold-hearted family is her betrothal to arrogant crown prince Leoford Franz. When the revelation of his tryst with another debutante comes as an unsurprising wake-up call, she has no choice but to barter for her freedom with Edwin Lowell Vikander, the ruthless, war-hardened Grand Duke of the north. As her dangerous dance with Edwin begins, Olivia seeks to leave her former fiancé with the coldest gift that vengeance can impart… A heart made bitter with regret.
Cyan Vert, illegitimate son of the Duke and the empire's greatest assassin, is betrayed by the righteous brother whose shadow he's always lived in. But just before the fatal blow strikes his throat, Cyan awakes to find he's just a boy again. The young lord has been reborn, and this time, he's not going to live in anyone's shadow!
Five years have passed since a blameless infant was spared from a demonstration, saved by her parents' self-sacrifice. Yet what should have ended the religious hysteria has instead fueled a new wave of feverish cult practices by the ever-growing Arrowhead. As society teeters on the brink of further chaos and long-dead sinners inexplicably begin returning to life, the government steps in behind the scenes to tip the scales.
