The fate of the world rests on eighteen-year-old Catherine Pierce's shoulders—and that's just one of her problems. She is a black beast, a shape-shifter with witch blood, with powers she's only just beginning to understand. She's also slowly falling for Prince Riordan, the dangerous witch whose touch sets her on fire. Phineas Riordan is the heir to his father's throne, but claiming it is a path rife with treason and treachery. A small faction of his people plan to force him to abdicate. Others plan to use him as a pawn. If they find out what he's been doing with Catherine Pierce, they'll kill them both. Finn needs his people's help to destroy the evil that threatens them all, but his court is a viper's nest of secrets and lies and perfectly capable of finding out the one thing he must desperately hide. Helping them are Cassandra Tyler and David Tran, and the reluctant ex-Slayer, Angel Ramirez. David and Angel both want revenge against the beings who ruined their lives. Cassandra just wants to survive. She thinks she's finally figured out what the prophecy means, but the price may be too high... The Shadow Thane has risen, he will stop at nothing to ensure their demise. As the circle closes, Catherine, Finn, Cassandra, David, and Angel will face darkness, magic, dragons, and maybe even death. If one of them fails, all of them will fall. The stakes have never been higher. Cover by Heather