Something has invaded Nesht, scorching the forests and villages and slaughtering her kind before disappearing into the night. Sent to find and kill the invaders, Ring-Witch Mayra finds something utterly unexpected—a dragon. He fills her mind with searing, mind-rending pain while desperately apologizing. And yet, she senses his exquisite soul. Something has him helplessly enthralled. Dragons. Their presence will start a war the Ring-Witches cannot win. Will she—can she—betray them as commanded? Or will Mayra abandon her kingdom and a new relationship to free them? Is she prepared to lose everything, gambling on the truth of arcane mythos? Did dragons forge a link with witches by gifting them the mystical Rings the witches wear? Or is it all a ruse by a mighty Prime Dragon to take back what dragons once ruled—the beautiful realm of Nesht?

Ring-Witches Mayra and Wolfe and Prime dragon Gaulte have led their followers from Nesht and into the icy north mountains where dragon aeries are found. A hard search and new allies locate the stolen female dragons and younglings in a deep cavern, a place filled with death and nightmares—mysterious, irrational humans. And leading them–a savagely mad and malevolent dragon. Why are they there? Why don’t they flee? The answer comes as a shock. They seek a stolen talisman—an evil thing only a wielder of dark dragon magic can use. Mayra will endanger everyone she loves to find the terrible thing. For to use the stone, their insane foe must kill a baby dragon. He has them all, but only one will do. A magical baby Mayra has bonded with.