Those who cross a Blackwood soon learn that they won’t like the results. Theadora Kathryn Blackwood’s life is just the way she wants it. Thea focuses on what she wants to do, what she wants to study, and the local COVEN hierarchy leaves her the hell alone. It took years for her to accomplish that much freedom, and now she is about to graduate college, the local coven leader has given her what she wants most. The opportunity to be freed from the shackles of Coven Politics for the rest of her life. The catch is that she must join the Arcane Investigations Division as an Arcane Consultant for three years. If Thea is still employed at the end of the set time, the Coven will absolve her of all ties and responsibility to them. The downside is that NOLA AID has lost two witches in the last four years. No one expects an untrained witch without the Coven's support to survive. Even if she is a Blackwood.

Three new cases, three mysteries, and three potential friends trying to find their places on the team. Thea has made it to Apprentice and is exploring where her magic can take her when an outbreak of mysterious magical attacks sweeps NOLA. Bodies are piling up and strange dreams are the only thing connecting the bizarre deaths, a group of people thought to be members of a dark cult have gone missing, and a powerful cursed object seems to be responsible for a rash of violent crimes plaguing the city. Can Thea’s nascent abilities be the key to unraveling all three cases? That will depend on whether her team can work together instead of getting in each other’s way. Thea makes a breakthrough when she makes it her business to help a teammate deal with his personal problems. Her effort earns his loyalty and the protection of another teammate who appreciates her willingness to go the extra mile for someone in need. Even a Blackwood needs backup from time to time.