A new threat to the elementals emerges that puts everyone Tan cares about in danger. After the most recent battle, the Mistress of Souls is missing and Tan must find her before another attack. With Amia's pregnancy changing the connection between them, Tan fears involving her and must rely on new friends, including a strangely intelligent draasin hatchling for help. Worse, an old enemy has returned, one surprisingly welcomed by Theondar. A darkness nearly destroys his draasin friend and reveals the true threat to the elementals. To save them, he needs to understand the secret of this darkness, one that leads to a surprising realization about the defeated Utu Tonah. Tan risks everything to stop it, but even after everything he's been through, he still might not be enough.