Half-breeds are seen as dangerous freaks, rejects, misfits who are useful for absolutely nothing. But my parents made a place for people like us to be free, to live together in peace. It was a sanctuary for half-breeds, and the place all my happiest memories took place. But I should have known it wouldn’t last forever. That peaceful place was destroyed, everyone I loved was killed, and I was taken—and tortured. I don’t know how long I was in that dark place before I was freed, but now I’m a different kind of prisoner.

My family is gone. My parents. My twin sister. All of them murdered by the man who has stalked me for years. He nearly killed me, too. But I got away and he’s still out there, searching for me. He won’t find me. At least, I hope not. Thanks to WITSEC, I’ve been given a new life with a new identity. I know my future will be hard and lonely. I must stay strong and focus on the good. I’m getting a second chance at life. I am safe. My new home is beautiful. The four brothers who live next door are even more so.

As I tried to move forward and build a new life under a different identity, I never expected to encounter people I could trust, let alone form connections with four guys who were determined to restore my smile. While finding my way back to myself, I'm discovering that I don't always have to hide. However, when it finally seems like I have a future, my past comes knocking on my door.

They say you can never go back… ‘Course, I never wanted to return. It took me years to age out. Once I made it, I took off and never turned around. Trust me, there were only three reasons I managed to survive there as long as I did and they abandoned me as soon as they were able. I’d like to say I didn’t blame them, but that would be a lie. I had zero desire to return. Yet here I was, on the road to Northland chasing a story cause my editor told me kids were disappearing… again.

A simple promise I made to myself after escaping a brutal childhood of abuse and being trained to enact violence on unblessed witches. Since that moment, I've managed to survive on the streets by successfully pickpocketing. Unfortunately, after years of hiding, the monster who stars in all my nightmares is closer than ever, and I'm faced with only one option—to seek refuge at the Dark Imaginarium Academy. The Academy is filled with the elite witches of our society. I should have expected I'd run into some of my previous targets. Normally, that wouldn't be a proble—except for my last hit.