Merry Gentry faces the ultimate betrayal in this stunning conclusion to Laurell K. Hamilton's epic New York Times bestselling series.

I was born a faerie princess, but all I ever really wanted was to be safe and loved. I found love with the warriors of the Unseelie court. They are princes now and have given me three babies who have magic running through their veins. But none of us are safe. A supernatural power grows in Los Angeles, a death deity that decides that the West Coast isn't big enough for his ambitions and our lives.

Before my lover Aisling, the rightly chosen ruler can be crowned King of the Seelie court, he is attacked by assassins hidden amongst our supposedly loyal guard. It takes the combined efforts of my royal lovers and the unexpected power of my bloodline to rescue him. Even though we've saved Aisling from certain death, he remains unconscious, plagued by a spell that threatens to drain him of his power.

In my mind there is no doubt that my uncle Taranis, the treacherous Lord of Light and Illusion, is behind this brutal attack. He wants to rip control away from everyone and everything, just as he always has, spreading poison throughout the Seelie court. And so we must fight a war on two fronts - against the death god and my uncle and his allies among the immortals of faerie. But I will not allow my enemies to destroy the family that I've built. And I will not let them break me. For I am Queen Meredith of the Western Kingdom and of the Slaugh, and I swear that I will achieve the impossible.

here will be true peace in faerie once and for all. No matter what it takes . . .