Barak Q'Ames, a warrior from the Other world and therefore a mortal enemy of the Paladins, has forged an uneasy alliance with the Paladins to discover who's betraying his people. Someone is promising Others safe passage across the Barrier that separates their world from ours, taking rare blue stones not found in our world as payment-but then the Others are killed when they cross over. Using his knowledge of his dark world, Barak works with geologist Lacey Sebastian-and a forbidden passion ignites between them. But Barak carries a secret that both sides would kill for. And when Lacey is kidnapped by the betrayers, Barak discovers that he'll risk his life to save her.