When Kerra plunges her son into the river, she sets him on a path of blood and suffering. Taking his first steps, will he emerge the same person? Kerra is the notorious matriarch of the valley known as Sanctum, a merciless leader of warriors known as the Ember Jackals, and a new mother. Since her initiation, all she’s known is a ravenous bloodlust. Now, her priority is the wellbeing of her son, Asher. Can she preserve their bond in the wake of her bloody history? Or will love turn to ire, as Asher learns the truth of the world and what it means to be an Ember Jackal? Maya is the lowly Sanctumite charged with the honor of caring for Asher, but she harbors a dangerous secret: under cover of night, she regularly journeys into the forbidden lands beyond the veil. Her ultimate goal is to escape, but how can she hope to succeed with an Ember Jackal in her care? Can she trust Asher to protect her? Or will sentiment be her downfall? Asher is a young boy caught unaware in a cruel wor...