Seventeen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she's
engaged to the prince, Twylla isn't exactly a member of the court. She's
the executioner. As the Goddess embodied, Twylla instantly
kills anyone she touches. Each week she's taken to the prison and forced
to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love a
girl with murder in her veins. Even the prince - whose royal blood
supposedly makes him immune to Twylla's fatal touch - avoids her
company.But then a new guard arrives - a boy whose easy smile
belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he's able to
look past Twylla's executioner robes and see the girl, not the Goddess.
Yet Twylla's been promised to the prince and knows what happens to
people who cross the queen. However, a treasonous secret is the
least of Twylla's problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies,
a plan that requires a stomach-churning, unthinkable sacrifice. Will
Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her
duty in favor of a doomed love?nbsp;