The next in line for the throne of Balneor, Thadeon of the Aldeaaris embodies all that people look for in a prince: strong, honorable, just, and dutiful at all times. While he falls short of his little brother, Thamred, when it comes to magic, Thadeon grew up serving the cause of the Alliance of Five, whether it was through diplomacy or war — many times, at the cost of his personal life.

When a gruesome murder shakes the foundations the Alliance was built upon, religious fervor starts dominating Balneor, and Thadeon’s fear of having to leave his loved ones behind again becomes a harsh reality. Sending both his brother and his paramour, Delaine, to safety, he embarks on a journey in an attempt to stop an all-out civil war before it even begins — only to find out that the very people his family most relied on are behind all the treachery that is happening.

Before long, everything spirals out of control, and peace turns out to be a long-lost hope the three cling to while the lives they had previously known are reduced to ashes. Thadeon is faced with a decision between love and duty, Thamred loses a piece of himself in a quest for vengeance, and Delaine uncovers truths many would kill for to keep hidden.