Can Vance and Treena bring their people together? Or will they pay for failure with their lives? It's been ten weeks since Treena returned to NORA. The council has rejected her war preparations at every turn and Dresden is backpedaling on his promises. Treena's secret followers push her to unseat Dresden and take control--something she refuses to consider now with NORA on the brink of war. Vance has his own set of troubles. Drought has made his settlement's future bleak and infighting has begun. Joining NORA seems inevitable, but Vance refuses to give in--not if it means putting his younger sisters and his people in danger. Then Treena asks him to join her at the peace convention overseas, forcing Vance to choose between his responsibilities and his heart.