Using the Empire poised around the edge of war, Sten spearheads the Eternal Emperor’s crackdown around the pirates and traitorous profiteers who are arming his enemies with vital war supplies. A trap is baited to lure the villains into a truel – a three-way duel. Only one issue stands in Sten’s method: Venatora, the beautiful pirate queen he’s cultivated to love. When it comes right down to it, can he get over loyalty and responsibility and pull the trigger?