For Commander Taryn Penthes, escorting Bariani diplomats seems routine—until the party is ambushed. And when she realizes the attacker she just killed is the Crown Prince’s lover, political winds shift. Now she’s in a race to get the surviving diplomat to safety—while using whatever means necessary to find out what he knows. Blade Von Stassos isn’t surprised at the assassination attempt. What does surprise him is the ferocious, deadly skill with which Taryn protects him. With no choice but to follow her lead, he tries to ignore the instincts telling him he’s finally found a worthy consort in her. Which comes as a surprise, since he’s not long on trust when it comes to women or Zonans. First they seduce each other for information, unleashing sizzling attraction that can’t be denied, even between enemies. As the balance of power shifts around them, the only way to stay alive is to find out who wants them dead. And why…