England, 1680 A. D.

Liara and Nagarath's enemy has unexpectedly come to their aid, surrendering to the magick-suppressing forces of the king of France so as to buy time for their escape. But that doesn't necessarily mean Anisthe is on their side. Vrsar's war mage, Liara's father-in-magick, has never been a man do to things for others. And he has always has plans within plans.

In fleeing to England with his apprentice, the Wizard Nagarath realizes that Liara's power is no longer her own to command. With the shattering of Khariton's magick mirror in the Palace of Versailles, the young woman has become trapped in an alliance with the ancient and evil mage. What is more, at eighteen-years-old, her life remains tied to Anisthe's for another two years per the Laws of Magick. Anisthe, who is now imprisoned for having helped them evade the king's spellpiercers.

Forced to revisit his own past, Nagarath is finally learning that there are some histories you cannot outrun. As for Liara, the darkness within her heart is greater than she ever could have imagined. This after Dvigrad's orphaned magpie having finally learned to love. For, in the words of Khariton himself, "In magick you can never have friends. Only rivals."