Noble-born Mo Xi is the foremost general of Chonghua, known for his ruthless temper and ascetic air. Once he was one of two promising young commanders, twin stars of the empire. His comrade, the lowborn Gu Mang, was Mo Xi's brother-in-arms, best friend, and--secretly--his lover, until the day Gu Mang turned traitor and joined the ranks of their nation's greatest enemy.

Now Gu Mang has been returned to the empire a ruined man, a shadow of the military genius he once was. The public clamors for his death, and no one yearns for vengeance more than Mo Xi. Or so he thought--for faced once more with his bitterest enemy, Mo Xi is left with more questions than answers. Why did the man he loved betray him? And what secrets hide behind Gu Mang's tortured eyes?
A LIFETIME TOGETHER

Now that Mo Xi has uncovered the truth after eight long years, he and Gu Mang finally have a chance to clear away the lies of the past. Both know the moments they share are destined to be fleeting. Despite his efforts to remain lucid, Gu Mang's memories from the Time Mirror continue to slip away, and dark magic eats at his mind.

Yet peace at home is short-lived as new threats gather at the frontier. When the Liao Kingdom attacks once again, Gu Mang will join his former master, Murong Lian, as well as Mo Xi to confront their nation's darkest enemy. Their mission: to neutralize an ancient danger inextricably tied to Chonghua's most secret history.