After her parents died in a mysterious accident, Esme was hidden away in the mortal realm
For nine years, she’s maintained a secluded, self-sufficient life on the outskirts of Debarrow
Believing the glamouring fog she’d crossed to reach the mortal realm had altered her dormant magic as well, she’s surprised when a tree branch reaches out to catch her from a fall, signaling that—even years late—her magic is beginning to manifest
When Carrick—the charming and persistent shop owner—convinces her to join him for lunch at the tavern, and a dead wolf is dragged in to the town center by a hunter, Esme touches the lifeless creature and inadvertently brings him back to life
Tearlach, the mysterious metalsmith, notices
But Tearlach—who seems to know more about Esme than he should—is the least of her worries, for a dream warns of an imminent attack
When assassins turn up at her home—just as the dream foretold—Esme flees
Tearlach saves her, killing the assassin who’d given chase
Esme then learns that Tearlach isn’t who he seems
He reveals that he’s been watching over her since she first arrived in Periwen, that a Lifeblood Oath binds them in life and death, and because she’s the only heir to the Fae kingdom of Tremaene, she must return home now that she bears a traceable magical signature from her newly awakened magic
With no better options, and with assassins hunting her, Esme reluctantly agrees
Traveling across Periwen, crossing the Sea of Muirín:
When they reach the coast, Esme slips Tearlach’s protection and finds herself face to face with Carrick—who followed after witnessing what he believed was a kidnapping
While Esme is able to send him away (with plenty of guilt and heartbreak), she realizes that he unknowingly led the assassins right to her
Luckily, her magic seems to react to her need for protection as vines and branches quickly envelope her
Tearlach removes the threat of the remaining assassins and they set sail for Tremaene the following morning
After passing through the glamouring fog that separates the mortal realm from Tremaene, Esme has another premonitory dream that warns of an attack in a place she’s never been
She wakes from the worrisome dream to a dangerous storm, and Tearlach reasons that her storm magic is directly linked to her emotions
Back in Tremaene:
They’re greeted by Tearlach’s personal band of warriors—Killian, Hazel, and Armel—who are now members of the Northern Rebels
The once lush land of Tremaene has gone barren
Esme realizes too late that the attack she witnessed in her dream is upon them, but with the foresight she was given is able to avoid capture
During the fight, she also discovers that the protective Lifeblood Oath that binds her to Tearlach is accompanied by the unwanted complication of hearing one another’s thoughts (or rather, Tearlach’s commands)
Esme is reunited with Captain Sullivan, and is told that the accident that killed her parents—the king and queen of Tremaene—was actually orchestrated by Orianna, the high-priestess who killed every other Sister in the Order and now wears the crown
Warrior camp in Altan:
Cadwyn—Esme’s lady-in-waiting, whom she’d believed dead—is waiting for her in Altan
Temporarily safe in the mountain stronghold, Tearlach insists that Esme learn to wield weapons and her untamed magic in order to defend herself against Orianna’s scouts
Reluctant as she is, Esme welcomes the distraction of her flirtatious sword-fighting instructor, Killian
The generals in the camp are eager to usurp Orianna, who uses her position of power to falsely detain, then execute innocent citizens in order to absorb their magic as her own
Esme asserts her newfound authority as the rightful heir to the throne and demands a secretive, more precise mission in hopes that fewer lives will be lost than with an all-out war
Journey to Meallán:
Esme travels south with Tearlach, Killian, Armel, Hazel, and Sully
Orianna’s scouts ambush their group as they emerge from the secret pass leading out of the mountains, leaving Killian dead by an iron-tipped arrow
Tearlach pleads with Esme through their connection to bring him back
She strains the bounds of her untested power and manages to breathe new life into Killian
As they continue their journey, Orianna invades Esme’s dreams
Hoping to spare the others, she sneaks away, determined to face Orianna alone, but Tearlach thwarts her attempt
When they reach the capital city of Meallán, Esme is left in the care of a humble bookshop owner while the others set off to dispose Orianna
Sully returns to retrieve Esme long before she expects Tearlach—whom she’d swore she’d wait for—and her instincts warn that something isn’t right
After being unceremoniously dropped at Orianna’s feet in the throne room, Sully shapeshifts back into the high-priestess’s personal guard, Briac
Palace throne room:
With her companions immobilized by Orianna’s magic, Esme is forced to battle the treasonous woman on her own
She throws everything she has into her storm magic, but her fledgling abilities are no match for Orianna’s multifaceted powers and mind control
So Esme uses the only advantage she has, directing invisible vines along the floor to slowly eat away at the woman’s seemingly invincible shield
All the while, Tearlach guides her, speaking through their connection—his voice in her mind both commanding and emboldening
When Esme at last breaks through Orianna’s shield—knowing she’ll then have to strike the final blow—Cadwyn emerges from the shadows and spares Esme from carrying yet another burden
Ending:
With Orianna gone, Esme fears her companions will return north to Altan
Instead, Tearlach pledges his life to her once more, and Hazel, Armel, and Killian choose to form a new royal guard, with Sully reprising his role as captain
Killian and Esme finally get some alone time together
Esme takes her place as queen of Tremaene
However, with no high-priestesses left to summon raw magic from the source, the barrenness that afflicts the land is sure to spread, and waterways will soon run dry
Erica Sebree 