The almost-crazy, nightmare-inducing cloak-and dagger intensity of the first book comes back with a vengeance in this sequel. I thought these two characters have been through about as much as it's possible to come through and still be sane, but I guess I was wrong. Lark and Derek are still trying to deal with their past and are working on coming to terms with the fact they can now trust each other, when the next disaster hits. Like with the first book, I was totally engrossed and felt as if I hadn't breathed the entire time I read the book.

Lark has a tough job in this story: he wants to keep Derek safe. Not an easy task, since Derek has decided he needs to go back to Lithusia to free a fellow agent from the same torturers that had him imprisoned and almost broke him. Lark knows better than to try to forbid him to go – but he is sorely tempted! Even though he is almost 100% sure they're walking into a trap, he stands by Derek in a show of what true love means for him.

Derek is as aware as his partner that he is walking into a trap – but abandoning someone to the cruel treatment of the Kraxnaftons is not within his abilities. He seeks reassurance from Lark, and they learn to trust each other on entirely new levels, but the price they almost pay is very high. The political machinations, the power play between organizations, and the manipulation by even "friendly" agents and superiors is astounding. Luckily Derek is better at deciphering what is going on than I am!

Even at the end it is clear there is more to come, more work to be done, but at least the two heroes get the time to take a break and blow off some steam. And boy, do they ever! Lark enjoys "suffering" the treatment Derek is asked to dole out as much as Derek enjoys giving him what he needs. The world, characters, and setting Silvia has created in the "Galactic Betrayal" series continues to fascinate me, and I hope for more books – soon! If you like nail-biting thrillers, double agents and their stories of figuring out who is backstabbing whom, and if you want an intense, extremely hot, and highly emotional read, try this book. I bet it’ll take your breath away just as the first one did. ( )