Half an inch. Roman's life has been taken over and destroyed by half an inch of poison-filled metal. Unable to deny the control Denzel now holds over him, Roman is no better than a puppet, controlled and used in however horrifying way the shadowkin leader orders. He longs for his freedom, an escape before he is forced to kill again, but without the ability to so much as lift a finger by his own choice, the most he can pray for is a merciful end.

Dorian is a Gregorian angel, tasked with witnessing the events of man, yet forbidden to interfere in any way. The consequences of breaking the Gregorian covenant are final, fatal, but something about Roman, the demon he finds imprisoned by the shadow elves, has him longing to break all the rules. Torn between duty and what his heart is telling him is right, Dorian chooses to fall, to touch the demon regardless of what the consequences will mean. He knows he has made the right decision and will happily live out the rest of his life with his choice, for however short that now might be.