Seyonne was not always a slave. Once his people were the guardians of magic such as the land had never seen, protectors and defenders. But the Derzhi came, and enslaved them. Now, years of degradation and misery have blurred Seyonne's memory, and sapped his strength. To his people, he is already dead. And to him, death is all that is left--until he finds hope in a most unlikely place...

Sold once again, Seyonne is bought by Aleksander, the heir to the Derzhi Empire. His new master is cold, and heedlessly cruel. But within Aleksander, the seeds of greatness wait. All it would take is guidance from one such as Seyonne once was...

But time is short, for demons have also noticed Aleksander--and what they cannot control they will destroy.

"A wonderful debut novel...hooks the reader with vividly drawn characters and draws us into an exotic, dangerous, and beautifully crafted world. Her heroes come alive on the page, with genuine emotions and concerns."--Lynn Flewelling, author of Traitor's Moon

"Vivid characters and intricate magic combined with a fascinating world--luscious work!"--Melanie Rawn, author of The Diviner's Key