A mysterious prisoner, long forgotten. Ancient blood ties of horrifying significance. A sly trap is sprung with terrifying consequences. Kara, heart bearer of Bastion, returns to Gaia to begin her mission. Aided by Chryso, her djinn Dragonmerger and a feisty dragon named Beryl, they fly into the core of the dangerous stronghold of the emperor. Her mission to bring down the barrier is overshadowed by her mother’s urgent plea to free a man imprisoned within the citadel’s stone walls.

It does not take long before Kara is confronted by her brother Jasper, a wizard who has sworn allegiance to the Emperor. Convinced of his loyalty to their family, she places her life in his hands, enlisting his help to free the captive. Lines blur as loyalties are tested, for the emperor sees all. They are pawns in a larger scheme, orchestrated by Madrid. Their plans are doomed to fail. Yet hope remains, while hearts are pure, for there is one who has the power to defeat the emperor.