by L. F. Hampton

Zurellius, winged ruler of Valtar, haunts the crystal ruins of the Ancients looking for the cure to his race's survival. During his search he exposed himself to the Ancients' greatest evil. Now his strength grows daily, but his emotions verge on violent insanity. But his personal sacrifice will ensure Valtar's survival even though it will cost him his soul and most likely his life. Mona de'Lacy has violated Valtar's forbidden air space to get her listing warship repaired and to tell Zurellius his brother and sister-in-law were kidnapped by pirates and deliver his half-breed niece to him for protection. A constant flame of hatred toward the pirates who attacked Da'tarn and killed her husband and son burns inside Mona. As soon as her ship is repaired she'll search for the pirate leader Synika and kill him. But Mona didn't count on Zurellius's threatening beauty or his ominous sexual pull. She's sure her reaction to him is caused by his mesmerizing eyes and compelling voice-the very Valtarie traits that banned his planet of winged vampires from the Alliance. She also hadn't planned on Zurellius insisting he come with her on her mission to rescue Da'tarn's kidnapped residents. Mona soon realizes she and Zurellius share a bond-they're two damned souls with no hope of salvation. Then Zurellius unleashes the evil dwelling within him and becomes the monster that made his race the most feared in the universe. Can Mona open her heart to the demon Zurellius has become and bring him back from the brink of Hell? Or will she have to watch him executed by the Alliance?