Fifteen years later, Harry is still coming to terms with the loss of Rue. Althea has waited patiently but can't hold off wanting a child of her own any longer. ¿¿¿¿Lara is 43 years old now and isn't as young as she used to be. With more grey hairs and the prospect of Zoe's parents moving away, the time has come for Lara and Zoe to leave the Cardinal behind. When Lara realises that Harry is more than her boss-she's been her best friend for 18 years-Lara needs to find the strength to create distance. Her impending mortality ignites her desire to protect Harry from a death she can't avoid. ¿¿¿¿While Harry deals with Lara's departure, the Cardinal is brought to a grinding halt when a young boy screams for help. A voice that Harry has only heard once, yet the only voice that can make her forget who she is.Don't threaten the cub if you can't defeat the lioness.