Torian Ranth has protected the university from the Viper. Now he must use him. There are none at the university who can teach Torian what it means for him to be a valsahir. When the headmaster suggests he convince the Viper to teach him, Torian must first prove he’s worthy. As secrets begin to unravel, the distinction between friend and foe blurs. The Viper, once thought an adversary, becomes an enigma, compelling Torian to grapple with a dangerous dilemma. Is the Viper genuinely the sinister force they have all feared? But a tangible threat forces him to make a choice. Rusav, relentless in their quest for destruction, look to liberate the Viper, their linchpin to obliterating Navarin. Torian must find his own truths to protect those embroiled in a war that should never have been theirs to fight—even if it means defying everything he’s come to believe.