The world is forever changed, as lore are no longer fiction on Earth. Humans are fighting for their very existence against creatures that once only existed in their nightmares, but they're losing. As Rowan watches the fallout it becomes clear to her that there are no choices, only actions, and she must fight against the imprisonment and genocide of not only her species, but humans as well, no matter who stands in the way.
Allies come in all shapes and sizes; however, sometimes alliances aren't choices at all, but a lack of options. Rowan finds herself forced to work with Vertigen whom she knows she can't trust, but it's not just Vertigen this go round. Sephians working in his liege could prove to be valuable assets, but with whom do their loyalties truly lie?
The ebb and flow of Rowan's tumultuous relationship with Ian continues, but is once again strained, when Rowan must take on the council and begin her journey into the Pentagram of Protection to free her kind. Sensing the darkness, and the power growing within her, Ian must choose between his responsibility to the council, and accompanying the only woman he's ever loved into the houses from which no one has ever escaped.
Ian isn't the only interested party when it comes to the evolving siren. Declan continues to operate on the fringes, always a threat to Rowan and her freedom, but as her powers continue to develop, he realizes the need for a new kind of reinforcement, which only exists outside their realm. His dolmens can take him anywhere he chooses, but with whom can he risk sharing power? Sharing her?
The witches have allied with the wolves, but their coven has a secret that binds them all. Benryn knows it's time to unleash him, even though it will strain the coven and bring unwanted, deadly attention to their door. Declan will do anything to get to Rowan, and his nests are too many for them to conquer alone. His vampires are out of control, and now more than ever pose an even bigger threat to her coven. She's out of options, but does she involve her overprotective mate or make a move on her own?
Bellamy never aligned herself with Benryn's coven, but Chaffie is her best friend, so when the vamps show up at his door she can't stand on the sidelines. As their allies struggle to survive and the humans perish all around them, she can think of only one idea, and she knows it has to be her, that goes. Heading to Troller's Gill alone could prove to be the bravest, or most shortsighted, decision she's ever made. Throughout history, making deals with the demon wolf at the Crossroads had never been to anyone's benefit but the wolf. She would have to muster more bravery and more wit than ever before, and she would have to do it alone. What would he ask in return for his assistance? And, was she clever enough to make a deal with the demon wolf on her own, or would he end up cashing in on her soul like all the others who'd gone before her?
Rowan recognizes the impact her decisions have had in the downfall of the realm, but she is acutely aware that she isn't solely to blame. Trying to exist in a lethal world, she doesn't understand with power hungry creatures she can't trust has resulted in the creation of walls around both her heart, and her mind. These boundaries are densely fortified with her anguish, suffering and rage, all of which will continue to shape who she is becoming.
The Pentagram of Protection, and the creatures within it are expertly crafted and more dangerous than anything she's experienced in the lore world. While Rowan has no idea where to go or how to defeat them, she knows there is no going back. Once inside, she either battles her way out or dies trying, and it's in this fight that Rowan realizes how much she truly needs her friends. No one could survive the magic in these houses alone, and some creatures will prove to be not only helpful, but essential to her survival. The magic she faces is proof that Rowan has absolutely no idea
