Death waits in the shadows of deceit. Magic is a gift few possess. It is given only to those who have devoted themselves entirely to Goddess Althaea, Bringer of Life and Courier of Death. All the people of Tai'nna know this. Those that claim to have been gifted naturally, are silenced...forever. And Elyrah holds no sway against the word of a goddess. Fear shadows Elyrah's every movement, her every thought, as she painstakingly hides a part of herself that would bring death to her door; magic, that was not gifted by Althaea, burns like molten fire in her veins. A sudden chain of traumatic events shatter Elyrah's world, tearing her away from everything she has ever known or loved. When Kaesen - a male wielding magic clearly not gifted by Althaea - appears, Elyrah cannot fight the appeal to know more, and she finds herself drawn to his magic, drawn to him. With promises to have the answers she seeks, Kaesen convinces Elyrah to travel with him to his homeland beyond the mountains.But Kaesen is all lies.Behind his cold eyes there is a darkness so deep it fills his veins with shadow and ice. Death whispers in Kaesen's shadows, in his trickery and manipulation. Should Elyrah uncover the truth, it will do more than wound her.It will break her.