It should have been a simple task—help a friend search the Avons Antiquary Society for records pertaining to an ancient curse. Thea Darrington doesn't expect any trouble, except perhaps from the rigid, staid president of the society. That young upstart she can manage. After all, she handled his predecessor back when she became the first woman admitted to the society.

Yet when she encounters a peculiar stranger lurking in the quiet chambers, one whose actions demand investigation, it upends all her plans. Regardless of the danger, Thea can't ignore a possible threat to her beloved society. After all, no proper antiquarian shrinks back from a quest for answers.

When the powers that be dismiss her concerns, she takes matters into her own hands. Never mind her advanced years and failing frame, she has determination enough to stand against whatever nefarious plans this individual may have. Or so she hopes...

This novelette takes place concurrently with Ruins of Bone, book two in the Blood of the Fae series. While a self-contained story, it assumes prior knowledge of the Blood of the Fae world.