Treena is frustrated. The council has rejected her war preparations at every turn and Dresden is backpedaling on his promises. Treena’s secret followers push her to unseat Dresden and take control—something she refuses to consider now with NORA on the brink of war.

Meanwhile, drought has made Vance’s settlement’s future bleak and infighting has begun. Joining NORA seems inevitable, but Vance refuses to give in—not if it means putting his younger sisters and his people in danger. Then Treena asks him to join her at the peace convention overseas, forcing Vance to choose between his responsibilities and his heart.

Now Treena and Vance must navigate the political undercurrents of a strange new country, stay together despite their enemies’ determination to tear them apart, and convince an indifferent world to help them fight the most powerful and deadly foe they’ve faced yet.