This part one of two books. Erin Maher is an academic mage, freshly arriving in the white city of Istham in order to study a curse that has been decapitating angels for centuries. Her research makes her a target and she is forced to flee the country in the company of a menacing scarred man. During her hiding she falls in love with the most improbable character and she prays for her life to be spared....or was she never in real danger, whilst someone else was?