Zoe's journey to the wild Outside with Naevia comes to a halt when conflicting feelings tear the two apart, but just as Zoe thinks nothing worse could happen, their camp is overrun! Taken prisoner and thrown in a cell back in Karxen, Zoe is approached by Dericka, Naevia's mother and member of Karxen's council, who offers Zoe a chance at helping Naevia free her friends. But at what cost? And what does Dericka really want?