Kit, a desperate young man living in London's shadows, witnesses a murder and stumbles upon a coded letter — a secret that costs one man his life and makes Kit a target. He's found by Major Adrian Wolf — a formidable military intelligence officer known only as “The Wolf” — who is hunting the same secret. Adrian quickly deduces the truth: Kit swallowed the letter, and his photographic memory has made him the most critical witness to an act of regicide.
Adrian claims Kit as his own, swearing to protect him but demanding absolute obedience. Kit is given the role of Adrian's valet, forced into a permanent, terrifying intimacy. The line between master and captive blurs as Adrian meticulously trains Kit, his touch a confusing mix of stern command and unexpected tenderness.
When a series of vicious ambushes threatens both their lives, Adrian confesses his necessity for Kit: Kit's sharp intuition is the only thing that allows Adrian to see the truth. Bound by shared peril and the desperate need to save the Prince Regent, their alliance deepens into a profound, terrifying bond. But can a former criminal truly find freedom — and love — in the gilded cage of a man who is both his ruthless protector and his greatest fear?
