Alyse's healing magic saved Rill's life, and now he brings her home in triumph to marry Troy. Alyse, though, only returned with Rill because she was concerned about her cousin Kate's fate. As her family applies more and more pressure to marry Troy—even starving her—Alyse's resistance finally begins to crumble. But more serious events and their consequences await her than an unwanted marriage. Ones that will change her life forever. Rill's triumphant return with Alyse makes him believe he's in even higher favor with the Estatis. He also sees his dream of becoming a noblesse and starting his own noblesse family beginning to be more than just a hope. Gradually, though, he begins to learn the frightening truth about why Deuth befriended him. That knowledge brings horrible consequences not just for himself but for his family, friends, and neighbors too. The Estatis finally get their revenge. The question is: will Alyse and Rill survive?