Even demons have limits. Crina is on the verge of reaching hers. Father branded a traitor. Check. Employers going behind her back. Check. Threats on her life. Check. The shitlist goes on and on. So, really, the last thing Crina needs in her life is another denizen of the Shadow World. Even if he does offer protection in exchange for her deadly services. Because everyone has an agenda. And pledging herself to someone she'd rather see in her bed than on the throne isn't without consequences.

New court. New problems. Old flames. Crina was supposed to have a breather. But with Reiner still out there, Breccan being a royal ass, and her own powers a damn bag of unpleasant surprises that would sooner get her killed than help, life is far from peachy. When a near-fatal mistake sends her hunting a murderous witch and throws her in Ilya's path once more, her already shaken stability takes another hit. The vampire can offer precisely what Crina needs-if she can let Breccan go. Unfortunately, deciding matters that cannot be helped with a slash of a blade has never been Crina's forte. Will she be able to keep her head throughout this mess-and not carve her own heart out in the process?

Secrets are fine. Until they make everything go up in flames. As if unearthing the truth about her heritage isn’t a damn struggle on its own, Crina finds herself walking a precarious path as the Shadow World continues to sink into turmoil. If there’s one thing this particular demon hates, it’s godsdamned vulnerability. Unfortunately, with Reiner still out to get her, her own powers spiraling out of control, and a face-to-face with all demon lords an inevitable part of her future, she’ll have no choice but to trust someone. But placing her faith in others doesn’t come easy to someone like Crina. Especially when she learns that her mere existence is enough to send those closest to her to their doom.

Wings are supposed to represent freedom, but it’s damn hard to fly in the middle of a supernatural freaking hurricane Though I’ve been diligently tackling my good old shitlist, the thing just keeps getting longer and longer. Story of my rotten life. Yelena’s attack on Breccan’s court and Nicarys’s demise by yours truly had left the already frail Shadow World a whole lot worse for wear. Patching up damages has always been a temporary solution at best, but with the landslide we’ve been riding for the past months turning into a churning roll, the entire demonic race is running out of time. As far as I’m concerned, the only thing worse than the looming deadline is attempting to meet it while trying to save my own damn life. Reiner hasn’t given up on his dream of draining my powers—he can’t, not with my Nechist heritage fuelling the feverish obsession that can only end in death. Mine. Or his. I’m adamant for the outcome to be option B. But when foes are formidable and allies few, the solution isn’t as easy as sinking a nice, sharp dagger between the ribs.