Princess Shiori finds keeping her promise to her dying stepmother to return the dragon pearl to the Kingdom of Dragons more perilous than she ever imagined. First, there is the treacherous politics of the dragon court in Ai'long, where she finds herself in the middle of court intrigue among human, dragon, and demon alike. Then, the pearl itself begins thrumming with mysterious, treacherous power, helping her one instant and leaving or betraying her in the next. Lastly, Shiori's own forbidden magic puts her in danger, threatening to sever the thread of fate that brought her and her beloved Takkan together.