Ella Belmont is a normal girl to those who don't look too close. To those with a keener eye it's obvious that she's a step apart—a step above. She has an easy grace, a natural beauty, and a serenity of the soul that isn't at all common in modern America. Ella is different and purposefully so, she just doesn't realize it. Nor does she realize that she is in fact a pawn in a deadly, magical game where lives and hidden kingdoms hang in the balance and the question on everyone's lips is not who is she, but what is she? To be precise, she is bait.

Ella came to the magical Hiddenlands thinking she was on the greatest adventure of a lifetime. Instead she accidentally helped to destroy the beautiful valley of the Fey. Now, hunted as criminals by the Den, she and Aric must flee the destruction they have wrought. America beckons and so does one last mystery; one that can only bring more death. As much as Eireden wants to join Ella, his honor won't allow it—she has chosen Aric, and besides he has a name and a throne to fight for. With his lands overrun by deadly hordes of maug, the rightful King of the Den pits the strength of his sword arm against the greatest evil on earth...it's not enough. Nor is becoming the King of the Den enough. In order to even have a fighting chance Eireden has to become more. He has to become the Sun King.

Separated by chance and fate, Eireden has to give up on finding love with Ella, instead he must watch helplessly as his kingdom is destroyed one city at a time. His enemies are vast in number and skillfully led, but they have no chance against the mighty fortress city of Rhyoeven…or do they? Eireden begins to suspect he has been maneuvered into trapping himself exactly where his enemies want him. Not wanting to be anywhere near Eireden when he weds another woman, Ella thinks she is leaving the world of magic and swords behind her, but by accident she comes across another fugitive from the Hidden Lands. However this fugitive is very much planning on returning and when he does he plans on bringing back something that can end the war in a flash.