Ashra’s reprieve doesn’t last as long as she wishes and she must return to court to face Amethyst’s inevitable vengeance and Lorcan’s plans to secure his heir. How long she’ll manage to bind them and their ambitions remains to be seen. But if there is one thing to expect at Raufasger’s court, it is that nothing every runs smoothly and unexpected developments can shift the balance of power at any moment. Too many players who want to bring change, to shake up any power balances to see what they can gain while others fall.