When Esme’s village is attacked by dragon soldiers, she is dragged into the heart of the Nathair Court—a kingdom where magic is not taught but claimed, and survival depends on obedience. Torn from everything she knows, Esme is thrust into brutal trials designed to strip acolytes down to their limits, where fear is punished, mercy is weakness, and failure is never forgiven.
As the court watches, Esme discovers her magic is unlike anything they expect. Cold answers her call where fire should reign, and the more she survives, the more dangerous she becomes—to herself and to those who seek to control her.
Caught between a ruthless king, a court that devours its own, and a dragon lord whose protection may cost more than it saves, Esme must decide whether survival is enough—or whether some power is worth breaking the world to claim.
In a realm ruled by dragons, the most dangerous thing is not fire—but what survives it.