Following the chaos in Shelling, Drailey has finally returned to Del'atre. All she wants is to see her sister and collapse into bed. The city however has other plans. Swept up by a crisis threatening her sister's life, and pursued by gangsters and killers alike, Drailey must out wit and out maneuver them all before time runs out for her sister and herself.

For five years, Ryle has trained hard to earn his swordmark and escape the bloody stain of his past. Now, a week away from graduating, he faces an uncertain future full of deception and betrayal. The House he sought to join has vanished, a conniving politician is trying to buy his contract, and the love of his life will slip through his fingers if he can't make a name for himself. Amid this chaos, Ryle receives a call for help from a close friend. His mission to help them will change everything and set him on a path toward a new fate that is more redemptive and dangerous than he ever imagined.