The legacy of 
Born of the Night continues....

A princess on a quest to save herself from an unwanted marriage, quickly finds herself in the arms of legendary commander whose only goal is to forget the life he once lived. 

Wounded in body and spirit, Adron Quiakides wants nothing more to do with this existence. He lives in a cocoon of pain, but one fateful night an angel stumbles into his life and leads him to the pathway of redemption. 

The obstinate, ever-hopeful Livia typpa Vista isn't the kind of woman to take his name and his money, then leave him in peace. She's the type of woman who takes his heart and shows him that life, even as he is forced to live it, is worthwhile. 

But can even Livia's steadfast love save Adron from himself?

"Whatever concerns my wife, concerns me."

Livia froze as soon as the words left Adron’s lips. Last night, she’d had no idea that he was the Andarion heir. But Emperor Nykyrian Quiakides she knew. They had been introduced a few days ago when she and her family had arrived.

Indeed, it was business with Adron’s father that had them on Kirovar to begin with.

Now that the two men were together, she saw the similarities between father and son. Nykyrian had the same white-blonde hair, the same firm, sculpted jaw. They also shared an identical height and build.

"Is this true?" her father demanded angrily. "Are you his wife?"

Livia swallowed. If she said yes, Andarion law would recognize them as married.

"Adron," his father said sternly. "Do you understand what you’re doing."

Adron turned to face her. He tilted her chin until she looked up into his icy blue eyes. "It’s entirely up to you."

Aghast at his offer, she stared at him. She’d never known a man so honorable. He could have left her to her father’s wrath and yet here he was offering her sanctuary.

"Are you sure about this?" she whispered.

"No," he said with a hint of a smile. "But then, I’ve never been sure about much of anything in my life."

She looked at her father’s angry face, and her brother’s. If she went home, they would have her beaten for her indiscretion. But if she stayed....

She had no idea what that would be like.

The known or the unknown.

"Take her," her father ordered.

Adron put himself between them.

"Nykyrian, tell your son to step aside. He is interfering with royal Vistan business."

For the first time, Livia noticed the deep, angry scars bisecting Adron’s body. His back was completely covered by them. It looked as if someone had once carved him into pieces.

Then, her gaze fell to the dragon and dagger tattoo on his left shoulder that marked him as a League Assassin.

She trembled. She knew absolutely nothing about him.

Nothing except for the kindness of his touch. Nothing except for the way he had made her feel when he kissed her. The way he made her feel wanted. Safe.

And in that instant, she made up her mind.

"What happens to me is the business of my husband," she said quietly.

Her father’s face turned to stone. "Then your ties to our house are severed." He glanced at her brother. "Come, Prinam."

Her brother’s features softened a degree before he caught himself. Without a word, he followed her father from the room.

Nykyrian stepped forward with an amused light in his green eyes. "Some things must run in our blood."

Adron frowned. "I beg your pardon?"

"Ask your mother one day how we ended up married." He looked to Livia. "In the meantime, welcome to our family, Highness."

Adron’s frown deepened as he regarded his father suspiciously. "You’re being awfully understanding about all this. Should I be afraid?"

Nykyrian laughed. "Probably. I hope this means you’ll rejoin the world again. We’ve missed you."

A tick started in Adron’s jaw.

His father’s face was kind and not the least bit judgmental as he smiled at Livia. "You know, you’ll have to bring her to the palace to meet the rest of your wayward siblings."

"And Mom?"

He nodded.

Something strange flickered across Adron’s features. Something Livia couldn’t define, but it looked as if Adron wanted to avoid his mother. "When?"

"Tonight."

"Will Jayce be there?" Adron asked.

"He is your brother."

Hatred flared in Adron’s eyes so harshly that it made her flinch. "He’s your son. He ceased to be my brother the day he refused to uphold the League’s Code."

Nykyrian sighed, then looked to Livia. "I hope you know what you’ve gotten yourself into."

The bad thing was, she didn’t.

Nykyrian left them.

Now that they were alone, the reality of what she’d done came crashing down on her.

She was married.

To a stranger.

"Well, isn’t this interesting," Adron said, turning to face her. "I don’t know about you, but when I went to The Golden Crona last night, I never intended to find a spouse."

She laughed. "Since I was there to avoid one, I can honestly say that never crossed my mind either."

He cupped her face in his hands, and smiled a warm, dimpled smile at her. And when he kissed her, she quivered at the tenderness of his lips.

"God, you taste so good," he said as he nibbled the corner of her mouth. "I could kiss you forever."

Desire stabbed her at his words. "You’re not so bad yourself," she said.

He laughed, then scooped her up in his arms.

Copyright 2000, Sherrilyn Kenyon