Ashton Ward, the son of the Queen's Guard, has been secretly healing wounded animals since he was a child. His life has always been quite secluded. That soon changes as he grows older and realizes there are consequences for everything he does and everyone he involves himself with. Princess Beatrice struggles finding herself in a world where everything is controlled for her. She yearns for freedom and will rebel to gain it, especially once she gets a taste of life beyond the castle walls. Besides, she can get away with anything, can't she? She's the heir to the throne, after all. They both have demons to face, and they might discover that they have more in common than just the color of their brown eyes.

(BOOK #2 in the Secrets of Aristol series.) It's almost been three months since Elouise's birthday. Although she's kept herself distracted by Beatrice's past, she's left with more questions. Perhaps she isn't concentrating hard enough. After all, she's still waiting for the one who may never come back. She can only hope the answers will come faster than she fears. When Eldon returned home, he thought he would be back by Elouise's side within a month. He fell back into his old routine instead. But he hasn't stopped thinking about her and what they managed to discover together. Then his village is attacked, and he finds himself back at her side, reminded of the awakened ability within him he's tried to avoid. He only hopes things will start making more sense this time. If anything's worth hoping for, though, it's that Eldon will finally believe. But he won't be the only one forced to face the secrets of the kingdom.

It has nearly been five years since Ashton fled the castle, and war has fully fledged. So, when he receives a letter pleading for his assistance, he knows he can no longer hide from his past. The time has come for him to complete his duty as the savior's guardian and stop Inferum cantivat from taking over. Beatrice has become a prisoner in her home; a shadow of her former self. Although she's gotten stronger, she has braced herself for the inevitable. So, when Ashton suddenly reappears, much healthier and more stable than she remembers, she finds her own strength again. But there is still the question of who Ashton Ward truly is and what the importance his role entails. It hangs above them with every Inferum cantivat encounter, drawing them closer to danger. The answer may either bring them to ruin or save them all.

A aristocracia transforma o desespero em espetáculo. No Torneio Expurgatório, a plebe é lançada à competição para entreter os nobres e buscar o perdão de seus pecados perante o clero. A antiga aliança entre os reinados de Rubi e Ouro se rompeu quando Arthena Blackscythe, coroada rainha, ousou libertar os escravizados, banir a burguesia e desafiar a fé que sustentava os opressores - e, em resposta, viu seu reino esmagado pela guerra em nome de uma justiça divina. Consumida pela vingança, Arthena sobrevive e, disfarçada, ingressa no torneio disposta a tornar-se a estrela mais amada da corte de Ouro. Seu propósito é claro: reacender a revolução, conquistar a confiança do rei e destruir, um a um, os pilares do império que arrasou seu povo. Mas o desejo proibido pelo príncipe - criado para ser santo, enquanto ela é tida como o mal encarnado - ameaça dividir sua raiva. Entre o ódio e a esperança, Arthena entende que não há redenção sem vingança. E com o sangue dos opressores, ela fará o governo se curvar ao povo.