**Tempered by Blood** *A Shadows of Peace Novel* Mark Taylor is no stranger to survival. He's endured captivity, assassination attempts, and the weight of command. But as he returns to active duty, new facts begin to surface-ones that don't match the memories he's always relied on. As he hunts for answers, Commander Richards works to hold together a fragile peace on Tinaree. With factions divided between the planet's original citizens and the Soto defectors seeking new lives, Taylor's story becomes a bridge between them-and a threat to those who fear the truth. In a world where narratives can be rewritten and loyalties shift with each revelation, Taylor must navigate not only what's real, but who still stands with him. Because the most dangerous enemy isn't always the one aiming a weapon.