The darklings come at night carrying their plague of shadows to the nine worlds. They corrupt all they touch and there's no cure except burning in the sacred fires. And Abagail Bauer has been infected with their baneful magic. Now Abagail is deep in a forest ruled by darklings, miles from safety, and weeks from the only person who can teach her to control the polluted magic raging through her body. With danger around every corner and darklings attacking at every turn, will Abagail survive long enough to reach her aunt? Or will the plague finally take control of Abagail and destroy her?