THE RELUCTANT EMPRESS Blood Will Tell Ninallia is young and desperate to save her family. She sells the only thing she owns: her body. Believing family lore that they descend from royal blood, Ninallia agrees to become a surrogate for some wealthy infertile couple. This lucrative agreement will allow her to provide for her family for several years. Her world is turned upside down when the Emperor and Empress are assassinated. She discovers that the child she is carrying is the heir. Both she and her unborn child are in grave danger. Disguising herself as a boy, Ninallia flees. If she is to survive the power-hungry lord seeking her, she must find help. Fate brings her two allies, a League soldier from another world and a Sister of a mysterious order. Together, they must keep Ninallia until her son is born and his blood can be tested to prove he is the Imperial Heir. With everyone searching for them, will they live long enough?