Amira Brindonu has done the impossible-she broke her own curse and rescued the imperial archduke from Empress Vesha's witchcraft. Saving the man she loves should have been a good thing, but by doing so, Amira has upset the delicate pact between the cythraul demons of the Dread Marches and the Erymayan Empire, with far-reaching consequences she and Daindreth can only begin to understand.

Now Amira and Daindreth are outlaws on the run. Their list of allies grows slim and their chances of outrunning Vesha's agents even slimmer. They soon have no choice but to seek help from those who first cursed Daindreth's father-the banished Istovari sorceresses.

Amira is willing to do anything to free Daindreth from his curse-even bargain with the women who once offered her as a human sacrifice-but it soon becomes clear that she will not be the only one to face the cost.

Every curse can be broken, but the price of breaking this one might be too high. Countless innocent lives across the empire are at stake, forcing Amira and Daindreth to decide just what-and who-they are willing to risk for a chance at freedom.