Though the curse is broken and he has Princess Harper by his side at last, Prince Rhen now faces ill rumors that he is not the legitimate heir, and has unleashed forbidden magic on Emberfall. Then, his guardsman Grey goes missing, leaving Rhen with more questions. Grey, meanwhile, knows the heir's true identity, and when Karis Luran threatens Emberfall once more, Grey will have to choose between Rhen and Luran's daughter Lia Mara, who wants to side with Grey against her mother and Rhen both.