Elaine Gates and Alan Graves have only had a few weeks to recover from the shock of discovering their roles as the Lady of Wind and Water and the Lord of Earth and Fire and having to fight for their lives against dark Mages determined to kill them. They're hoping life will be quieter for a while, especially as Alan's Senator employer is beginning to ask questions about her staffer's strange new habits. Elaine, meanwhile, wants time to look for meaningful employment now her injuries have ended her Navy career, and to find out more about their mysterious allies, the vampire Mark Valentine and his thrall Nadia Julian. But an earthquake, a new vampire on the scene, and a demonic apparition lead them straight back into the shadowy world of magic . . . and murder.