Chapter 1: Summary
Summary
Archaeologist Mikan Sakura is prepared for almost anything when she returns to her family home in Kyoto, Japan ….. Except the news that her brother, Ruka, has just been seriously wounded in a sniper attack in Central Town. She rushed back to Tokyo to be with him, only to come up against no-nonsense Natsume Hyuuga, who was slightly wounded in the attack.
In his work as an Alice Agent, Natsume is the best, but he's willing to break the rule to track down his and Ruka's would-be killer. Natsume believes the official investigation is going in the wrong direction – especially when he learns that Mikan is like a surrogate daughter and a confidante to her family's Northern Woods neighbor – the prime minister of Japan.
When Natsume suspects that Mikan has held back crucial information, he follows her to Northern Woods. Because Natsume will let nothing – not his and Mikan's growing attraction for each other, not the mounting danger they face – stand in the way of the truth. But in a place filled with betrayal, greed and long held secrets, truth is guarded with a deadly vengeance.