Never and Rikeva are stranded. Defeating the Burnished King has come at a heavy cost. Never and Rikeva find themselves trapped in the time of his ancestors, captured by Amouni Guardians. Guardians who immediately brand Never as a mongrel – and Rikeva as a worthless, ‘untamed’ commoner. Yet before seeking their execution, the Amouni decide to harvest Never’s blood in order to further the goals of their purity-obsessed empire. Discovering the hard way that his powers are no longer the peerless advantage they once were, Never is forced to cooperate with untrustworthy allies on a desperate quest to escape and keep Rikeva safe long enough to find their way home… if one actually exists.