THE CRUELEST BEAST OF ALL—HUMANKIND Leonardo Nix once dreamed of becoming an alchemist. Instead, he’s in a maximum-security prison, languishing in guilt and self-disgust. After all, he admitted to breaking an unspeakable taboo—eating his comrades. Then, not long into his imprisonment, he is suddenly transformed into a hideous monstrosity. He flees the prison as guards sound the alarm, but nowhere is safe for such a terrible beast. And though he doesn’t want to hurt anyone, a dark hunger for human flesh stirs within him. When all hope seems lost, he crosses paths with Elena the witch, who offers to find a way to break his curse! Unfortunately, there’s a catch: as her familiar, he’ll still get blood on his hands…straying even farther from the path of redemption.