In Keara's worlds, every child has a darkbeast—a creature that takes dark deeds and emotions lie anger, pride, and rebellion. Keara's darkbeast is Caw, a raven. Caw is her constant companion, and they are magically bound to each other until Keara's twelfth birthday. For on that day Keara must kill her darkbeast—that is the law. If she refuses, Keara will be harshly punished by the fierce Inquisitors. Though Keara struggles to follow the rules, she cannot imagine life without Caw. And she finds herself drawn to the Travelers', actors who tour the country performing revels. Keara is fascinated by the Travelers' mysterious plays. As her birthday approaches, Keara readies herself to leave childhood—and Caw—behind forever. But when the time comes for the sacrifice, will she be able to kill the creature that is so close to her? A single decision could ripple outward and change Keara's life—and perhaps her world—forever in this gripping story that comes straight from the heart.

Betrayal threatens everything Keara dreams of in this fast-paced, exciting sequel to Darkbeast. Keara, her friend Goran, and the wily old actor, Taggart, are fleeing for their lives. They have all spared their darkbeasts, the creatures that take on their darker deeds and emotions and lift their spirits. But their actions defy the law, which dictates that all citizens must kill their darkbeasts on their twelfth birthdays. There are rumors of safe havens, groups of people called darkers who spared their darkbeasts and live outside the law. To find the darkers, the trio must embark on a dangerous journey—and evade the Inquisitors who are searching for them everywhere. In the middle of winter, freezing and exhausted, Keara and her companions are taken to an underground encampment that seems the answer to all their hopes. But are these darkers really what they appear to be?