Nyah, the illegitimate daughter of a sorcerer king, has always lived in the shadows. With only a touch of magic and no real power to call her own, she's accustomed to being overlooked—especially when compared to her full-blooded sister, Leuruna, the princess who suffers at the hands of their cruel father.

But when Leuruna transfers her magic to Nyah to protect it from their father's tyranny, Nyah is forced to flee the kingdom. Her escape takes an unexpected turn when she's saved—and kidnapped—by Rivven, a mysterious and charismatic warrior with dangerous secrets of his own. His mission? To assassinate Nyah's father. But Rivven's plans come with a risk Nyah isn't willing to take: he wants to enter the Imrati, a tournament where the victor can claim the legendary powerstone and the hand of the princess.

It's the perfect opportunity to get close to the king and strike. But the stakes are higher than Nyah could have ever imagined. As she's pulled deeper into the trials—and into a scorching attraction for Rivven—she finds herself torn between her duty to her sister and the growing desire to stand by the man who's risking everything for a better world. Enter the Imrati—where only the strongest will survive, and the prize may cost more than anyone is willing to pay.