Verene and Darius should be celebrating their greatest triumph, but instead they're left with heavy responsibilities and too many questions. As they dig deeper for the truth, they discover a threat beyond any they could have imagined. With enemies both within and without, even the Academy isn't a safe haven from the looming threat. Verene is ready to use her new powers to defend everything she loves, but she can't stand alone. If she and Darius can't heal the rift between them, then they have no hope of protecting the Academy and uniting a kingdom torn apart by decades of bloodshed and power struggles. And if they can't unite Kallorway, then destruction is coming for them all.