Tribute Day has come. For a century, the Kingdom of Mestria has oppressed the people of Arjun. Those who cannot pay the brutal tax suffer a grim fate: enslavement, conscription, or imprisonment. As an Iron Baron, Rowan wants nothing more than to shield his tenants from the Mestrians' wrath and get through the tribute unscathed. But when he defies the Mestrian Enforcer who rules Arjun with an iron fist, Rowan learns that his actions have dire consequences for everyone around him. Tahira yearns to explore the ancient magic that courses through her veins. Yet in her quest to hone her conjuring abilities, a secret she's kept from Rowan, she risks losing his affection if her deception is exposed. Akaran, the wealthiest Iron Baron in Arjun, detests the Mestrians' tyranny. After the Enforcer levies a hefty tax on Akaran's estate, he makes a fateful decision, thereby signing his own death warrant. Only a handfast partnership with the devious but charming Marah can save his lands from falling into Mestrian hands. When the Enforcer unleashes his savagery, Rowan and Akaran join forces in a daring plan to revive the legend of the Wraiths and rebel against the Mestrian regime. But beneath their iron masks lies a haunting truth: if the uprising fails, they will all face the hangman's noose-or worse.