When your own mind becomes a weapon, who can you trust? Private Angela McBride stands accused of treason after a diplomatic ceremony goes horribly wrong. Trapped in a military detention center with deadly programming in her brain that activates when she gets too close to the truth, her only hope lies with Zoric--a lizardman warrior sent to observe her interrogation. But Zoric has his own demons to battle, including the loss of a previous mate that nearly destroyed him. As a forbidden Bond forms between them, Angela and Zoric must unravel a conspiracy that spans multiple species and stretches back to her mysterious childhood in the mountains. With enemies that can burrow through sand like worms and plant deadly triggers in their minds, they race to expose the truth before the programming in her brain silences her permanently. Their growing connection might be the key to her survival--or the very thing their enemies are counting on. In a world where nothing is quite what it seems, they'll need more than just their Bond to survive the forces working to tear them apart. Contains mature themes.