My parents are alive. Melisandre, the cruel Fae Queen, is holding them hostage. She thinks that they're all the leverage she needs to lure me into her clutches.

She isn't wrong.

But Nine, the Dark Fae who has looked out for me since I was a kid, won't let me sacrifice myself. The Shadow Prophecy says that only I can defeat the Fae Queen and end the Reign of the Damned.

Then again, it also says that I'm gonna need the help of my fated mate. Who, I just discovered when he gave up his freedom in my place, is Nine.

Whoa. 

I didn't want to do this. I didn't want to have anything to do with the fae.

Too bad I don't have a choice.

Okay. Okay. One step at at a time.

Step One: Save Nine.

Step Two: Get to know my parents.

Step Three: Defeat the Fae Queen and save Faerie.

When I discover that there's a way to do all three of those, I'm game... until I find out that it requires me to do something I swore I wouldn't.

I have to go back to Black Pine. I have to go back to the asylum. Then, if I survive the confrontation with the Fae Queen, I can finally—finally—put this whole Shadow crap behind me.

No biggie. 

With my Shadow Man at my side, and my newfound powers, I know I can do this.

And all it will cost me is one last touch.