Lilya Orensdaughter has become a courtesan in the Temple of Dreams to make sure she never looses control in any relationship she has with a man. She controls who, what, when, and how far she is willing to go with every hand picked client. Six years ago a man she thought she loved brutally beat her then gave her to his employees to use her as they wished leaving her for dead. Lilya is now content with her life until the man that saved her life after that brutal time shows up at her door requesting a favor. Byron Andropov nursed Lilya back to health for almost a year then he just disappeared. Now he is asking Lilya to use her charm to help his friend; Lilya owes Byron her life and agrees to help up to a point with conditions.

Byron Andropov can think of no one he can trust with his friend, Alek Chaikoveii, than Lilya Orensdaughter. Long ago Byron found her broken and beaten in a dirty alley then nursed her back from the tragedy she experienced only to leave without as much as a goodbye, his feelings were strong for her then. Byron is sure Lilya can reach Alek emotionally and convince Alek to use his powerful magick for the new government. Byron thinks he has his emotions in check where Lilya is concerned but being near her again shakes his resolve, especially as he watches Lilya and Alek become friends. Byron is no longer sure what the future holds but he is sure that because of Lilya's past she can never love another. Or can she?

This the second book in this erotic historical romance by Anya Bast that promises dark passion, dangerous peril, and survivors of love and loss. What a great series! I love it.