kind of girl who knows what's real and what isn't. Nothing in life is fair. Nothing is given freely. Nothing is painless. Every foster kid can attest to those truths, and Ava lives them every day. But when she meets a family of dragon shifters and is chosen to join them as a rider, her very notion of reality is shaken. She doesn't believe she can let her guard down. She doesn't think she can let them in--especially not the reckless, kind-eyed Cale. To say yes to him means he would be hers--her dragon and her companion--for life. But what if Ava has no life left to give? *** If you liked Core, read the rest of the series: Core (Book 1) Sole (Book 2) Vane (Book 3) Sake (Book 4) Try the System Series by Teshelle Combs (available on Amazon)