Summary of Book One

TheGreatProphecy of the ThirdAge foretells the WorldBreaker, who is destined to destroy the magic of the world, and is born of dragonfire. TheGreatHero must face the WorldBreaker, and restore magic.

FaePrincessToriKhato accompanies her beloved twin brother Jun, who is in a melancholic mood. She tries to cheer him up by teasing him and offering to take his place at court for the day. Tori has always protected Jun, who is a kind and gentle soul, while she was always the fighter. At court with her father, it becomes obvious that her parents don't value her opinion, or her presence. After an altercation with her father, she leaves in a foul mood.

Thisis quickly interrupted as her home is invaded by an unknown army. Tori rushes through the palace looking for her brother, and helps many of the human servants escape along the way. Her escape is thwarted by an unknown assailant. She awakens to the FaeKingAbraxas threatening her father and his court. She attempts to attack him, but is interrupted by the GreatHero himself, EmperorHadeon. She thinks she is saved, until it becomes obvious that Hadeon is no hero at all, and is behind the entire invasion. He takes her brother Jun as his captive, and casts Tori off to Abraxas.

Abraxasjourneys with Tori back to his home, with her fighting him every step of the way. Her only thoughts are of rescuing Jun and returning home, but trapped on a ship with an entire army, she doesn't have many opportunities. At the insistence of CommanderAvlyn, Tori joins the daily training of the soldiers, and it quickly revealed that she has trained for decades with a sword. She gains rapport with the soldiers, but this is lost when their ship is attacked by an ancient Leviathan, whom Tori frees. All the ancient beasts are believed extinct, but that is obviously not the case.

Abraxasconfronts Tori for her reckless behavior, but the encounter quickly becomes heated, both Tori and Abraxas refusing to back down. Tori attempts to stab the King with his own dagger, which only draws him to her more. Luckily, or unluckily, they are interrupted before anything more can happen. Tori cannot deny her attraction to Abraxas, despite her seething hatred.

Theyarrive in Xyr, Abraxas' home, and Tori is surprised to find a city full of life, not one oppressed by a tyrant as Abraxas' reputation would suggest. But she is quickly whisked away to the castle, where she meets her handmaid, Ciara. She, like most everyone else on her journey, meets Tori with kindness that she quickly rejects. Abraxas tries to return to the order of his life, searching for an ancient diadem, but finds himself constantly interrupted by thoughts of the Princess. He approaches her to make a bargain. If she draws information out of a particularly tight lipped guest, he will allow her to continue her sword training. Tori cannot refuse. She uses the charms of seduction she learned during her life at court to acquire the information, despite Abraxas' continued jealous interruptions.

Torireturns to training with the soldiers, and quickly finds herself at ease with them. They are impressed by her skill with a sword, and after a few duels, all the messiness with the Leviathan is forgotten. She grows close to one solider in particular, Kaleos, who takes her under his wing. She even ends up dueling the Abraxas himself. She holds herself back until Abraxas allows her a true bladed sword. Tori reveals her true skill fighting in a duel wielding style, and defeats Abraxas, but hesitates before killing him.

Toritrains during the day, and plans her escape at night., but she's lost in an entirely new land, with no allies. Until one night she overhears a secret conversation between Abraxas and Avlyn, revealing a somber but venerable side to the king. She confronts him, but a mysterious force connects their minds, and Tori and the king exchange memories. She sees the memories of a man haunted by his past, and he sees the same in her, including a memory where Tori attempts to take her own life after abuse from her father. Before the pair can actually have an emotional connection, Hadeon arrives with Jun in tow, captured in a powerful enslavement enchantment that allows Hadeon to control Jun, and to control his magic. Tori always knew Jun's singing was special, but she never imagined it was due to the magic coursing through him. Hadeon confronts Tori, and demands she reveal her magic as well. Tori insists she has no magic, but manages to land a solid punch on Hadeon before Abraxas can drag her away. He locks her in her room, insisting it"s for her own protection.

Thisdrives Tori over the edge, and the next day she makes her great escape. But it all goes wrong, and she is nearly killed falling from a sea cliff.

Abraxascares for Tori as she heals from the injury that is life threatening even for a fae, and he realizes how much he cares for her, and how his own actions are what drove her to her desperate escape attempt. They grow closer as recovers, even if she never truly heals. The injuries to her left arm were so severe she can no longer move it properly, and she mourns her ability to fight.

As‘punishment' for her escape attempt, Abraxas insists that Tori accompany him to a local festival. The hedonism and energy of the night lead to Tori and Abraxas sharing a dance that puts both on dangerous ground. When they return to the castle, Abraxas once again insists that Tori remain locked in her room, despite the continued festivities at the palace. Tori sneaks out, and discovers that the debauchery earlier in the night was only the beginning, as she stumbles upon an exhibitionist party, where she is confronted by Abraxas. They share a passionate kiss, but are interrupted before it can go any further. Tori can't sleep, and makes her way to the Abraxas chambers. They share a night of intimacy, but it seems to drive Tori only deeper into her dark thoughts, and she finds herself taking a sleeping potion to quell the noise of her mind, something she swore she wouldn't do again.

Toriand Abraxas continue provoke each other even as it becomes obvious that Abraxas feelings for Tori are more than a sexual tryst. ButTori cannot accept her own feelings, until Tori is taken captive along with Kaleos by an unknown group. Kaleos is stabbed, and Tori injured as she fights their way out. At the last moment, Abraxas arrives, wielding his sword and magic to save her. After this, their encounters change. Abraxas longs to reveal his feelings to Tori, but he knows it would drive her away. WhenTori leaves him no choice after demanding more sleeping potion, Abraxas reveals himself, but also his long standing hatred for Hadeon that drives him. He releases Tori from her imprisonment. AfterTori finally accepts the feelings she has, she returns to Abraxas who has lost control of his magic in anguish. She calms him, and he invites her on his quest to find a lost enchanted diadem.

Thetwo journey to the TenebraeForest despite Avlyn's strong protests against. They find themselves trapped in the forest that has magically surrounded them. After another encounter with a mythic beast, the forest reveals itself to be sentient, and quite angry at all of fae kind. Abraxas talks to the forest, and wins its trust, allowing them to travel to the ruins of an ancient castle. There, Tori befriends a baby giant spider that leads them to the diadem, but it provokes the ire of the ghosts of the ruins. Tori cannot fight them without magic, and Abraxas has been weakened. As the end draws near, Tori embraces Abraxas which allows the magic of the earth to rip through her body and power Abraxas, allowing their escape.

AsAbraxas and Tori work through what their encounter in the forest could mean, Hadeon visits them again, notably lacking Jun. Tori learns that Jun is dying due to Hadeon's imprisonment. AfterTori convince Hadeon that Tori is completely controlled by Abraxas, they travel to the capital. They use the enchanted diadem to break Jun's imprisonment, but he does not awaken. They also use it in an attempt to break Hadeon's control on his own magic, but their plans are thwarted by Ciara, who has been a spy for Hadeon the entire time. Hadeon captures Tori, and attempts to use her as leverage against Abraxas. Abraxas attacks Hadeon, and Tori and Avlyn fight off defending soldiers. But they are quickly overpowered by Hadeon and his forces. When all seems lost, Abraxas reveals that the WorldBreaker wasn't the last dragon, but he is. He shifts and they escape Hadeon, but the use of so much magic puts him into a sleep like death. Tori and Avlyn try to determine the location that Abraxas delivered them to, to find an ancient fae seer who informs Tori that the last dragon is not the WorldBreaker, but she is, and the only way to save Abraxas is to fulfill her destiny and destroy the world she knows.

Afull Glossary can be found at the end of the book.