All the dragon Camri knows is that life is dying. In a bid for immortality, she sets out on a rampage of torture and conquest.

When Cassian and her play-mates explored a cave, they woke a tormented dragon, twisted with unnatural powers. Now Cassian is bonded to Camri as a rider is bonded to her dragon, even while Camri destroys all she knows and loves. There is nothing she can do except try to appeace Camri, but sometimes the dragon's atrocities are so horrible they drive her to a defiance she always regrets. Punished by the death and torture of the people and dragons she loves, Cassian wishes to die, but is kept alive by Camri's magic.

When no kingdom or wizard has been able to stand against Camri, can Cassian see the Promise of relief when it stares her in the face? Or will she commit the greatest of her bonded dragon's atrocities by her own hand?

"When twilight gloom has turned to darkest night, watch for your hope, the long-awaited Promise, for it is in the darkest and coldest of night that the Morning Star rises."