Something has invaded Nesht, scorching the forests and villages and slaughtering every living thing before disappearing into the night. Sent with her Clan 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. Yet, she senses his soul and knows he is helplessly enthralled.

Dragons. Their presence will start a war the Ring-Witches cannot win. Will she—can she—destroy them as commanded? Or will Mayra betray her kingdom and jeopardize Wolfe, her new mate, to free them? Is she prepared to lose everything, gambling on the truth of arcane mythos? Did long ago dragons forge a link with witches by gifting them the mystical Rings they 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 have freed the enthralled dragons. Along with Prime Dragon Gaulte, they now lead their followers from Nesht and into the icy north mountains where dragon aeries are found. The dragons are free, but only half so–the broken souls they share with their mates must be healed. They have to find their stolen families. A hard search and new allies locate the female dragons and younglings in a deep cavern, a place filled with death and nightmares, tended by mysterious, irrational humans.

And overseeing everything, directing the madness all around those who would rescue dragons, is a mad and malevolent dragon. His savage magic is dark and powerful, and he doesn’t hesitate to use it as he seeks a stolen talisman—an evil thing only a wielder of dark dragon magic can use. But to do so, he must sacrifice a baby dragon.