Midnight struck, the clock ran down, and Tristan knows who Cinder really is. The last war killed her parents, and this war ripped away the man she loves. Now, she returns herself to the shadows, her life spared only by her reputation as a battle-tested hero. If there were time to feel, Cinder would undoubtedly drown in grief over lost lives and love, but there is no room for mourning when pinched between the dual threats of the Corvids and her very own brother, Duke Ash. Tristan can't stand the sight of Cinder after finding out that she originally meant to assassinate him. But he also can't look away from her. Amidst a perfect storm of kingdom-ending perils, Cinder and Tristan are forced to shove their feelings aside and fight as one to save the orphans of Shield House. Can they swallow their feelings long enough to prevent the children from becoming the next tragic casualties of this war? And if they can save the kids, will they have any time left to try and save themselves?