When the plague took her parents, and left her with a young sister to protect, Talia Atwater had no choice but to become a reaper - a blade for hire. Talia's speciality is ridding her clients of their sworn enemy: the person destined to kill their soulmate.

Cain Hawthorne never set out to be a killer. But as a child, he pledged his life to the Brotherhood, who see reapers as an affront to the Gods. And if the Gods command Cain to hunt those who hunt others, what choice does he have? Even if it means Cain forsaking his own destiny, ignoring the thin golden line that encircles his finger, a constant reminder of the soulmate he can never know.

Talia has no intention of seeking out her soulmate either. Alongside her gold mark, exists a barbed crimson ring -promising her soulmate will meet a tragic end at the hands of Talia's sworn enemy - and she would sooner forego love than endure the pain of losing her bonded mate.

When a ruthless client forces Talia to seek out a child, Cain sets his sights on Talia, thrusting them both into a deadly game of deception, murder and seduction...