Not everyone deserves love. For some, love comes unwillingly and refuses to stay, leaving devastation in its wake. The Chartrices own the demonic Parisian underworld and they rule with an iron grip, destroying everything that stands in their way. Brothers Castran and Tarquin, and father Adaeus, are ruthless and supremely equipped to force their will, stamping out any dissent with cold efficiency. Some see them as villains, but their rule keeps order.

But there are some things strength cannot overcome, especially the unbidden emotions that promise more than a life of single-minded determination and isolation. A glimpse of something more, something soft, can undo the coldest of hearts. Still, a villain is a villain, and the fates are cruel.

Three interlinking stories trace the effects of the most insidious of enemies, love, on a family that allows no weakness.