Elyra Ashford is nineteen, and all she has ever wanted is freedom.

Away from her family's expectations, away from a life chosen for her, and closer to the dream she has always kept hidden—traveling the world, capturing its most beautiful places through her camera, and building a travel brand of her own.

But starting over in a new city doesn't go the way she imagined.

On her very first day, danger finds her.

And a mysterious man in a black coat appears out of nowhere.

He saves her.

Then he disappears.

But somehow, their paths keep crossing.

Again.

And again.

Elyra doesn't know who he is, why he keeps appearing, or why every encounter with him leaves her with more questions than answers.

To her, he's arrogant, rude, unpredictable—and completely impossible to understand.

But there is another side to him.

A side hidden behind secrets, power, enemies, and a world Elyra knows nothing about.

She thinks he's just a stranger.

She doesn't know how deeply connected he is to the darkness surrounding her.

And she certainly doesn't know the truth behind the man everyone may one day call a villain.

Because sometimes...

The villain isn't exactly what you think he is.

And sometimes, the person you never expected to meet becomes the one person you can never forget.