Luck can only go so far. Gleam may be fading into the distance, but Vex is far from done with Chance and Bella. At his command, the Shikari set off in hot pursuit of them. The best way to evade their hunters is to blend into the villages that surround the massive Scholar City. But, as Bella shows Chance more of the new world he’s found himself on, they stumble into forces that not even Vex could have predicted would be at play. Yamish stands in wait, offering a solution to all of their troubles—a solution that stands at direct opposition to Chance’s boundless optimism. If he’s going to find a way to survive Vex without losing Bella in the process, something is going to have to give. Luck might not be enough, but Chance has never been good at giving up when he’s meant to.