Three years after the human race devolved into the biggest, bloodiest conflict it has seen in centuries, the war may be over, but only for some. Laura Belden is at the end of her rope. Her community is under the tyrannical control of a sadistic madman, and her people are depending on her to find a way out. The last thing she needs is the boy she once loved showing up out of the blue, as if he hadn't broken her heart and then disappeared right out of her life. The problem is, he might be the only one able to help. After all, Finnegan Rowe is an expert on all things Shadow, courtesy of the twenty years he spent in their ranks. Finn is coming home for one reason: to beg Laura's forgiveness and start making amends for two decades of bloodshed in the name of a lie. He knows it won't be easy-Laura is hurt and angry, and she has every right to be. He's ready to accept whatever punishment she deems necessary. What he doesn't anticipate is coming face to face with an enemy who threatens the lives of everyone who still matters to him. The battle will cost him everything, but a Hawk is trained to never leave a mission unfinished. Turns out, there is a way out of Shadow after all. But it leads through blood...