A chance for revenge turns into a fight for survival as Rafael, a former assassin, and his immortal master Xian must escape a city on the brink of chaos. But can Rafael trust the one person he thought he could count on, or will their past keep them apart?

Rafael wanted nothing more than to serve his immortal master, Xian, a High One of Clare, who taught him from an early age how to be an assassin. But after failing his final test, Rafael was turned out into the Lower City, abandoned by the one person he thought he could count on.

Years of hatred and thoughts of revenge have fueled Rafael's quest for vengeance, but when the time comes to strike at Xian, he hesitates and is taken prisoner. Rafael expects to die, but instead Xian reveals the dark truth driving the ruthlessness of the High Ones—the source of their immortality is spent. Soon the city will devolve into chaos as High Ones battle one another and the rebellious denizens of the Lower City for power and resources. Xian wants to spare Rafael that pain, just as he spared him the pain of becoming a High One a decade earlier.

Their only chance for survival is to escape Clare before civil war breaks out. Even if they make it out of the city, though, there's no guarantee that Xian will live through the agonizing process of becoming human again. They can only rely on each other…if Rafael can bring himself to once again trust the only man he's ever loved.