Ianira Henbane knows that Lucien Blackwood is a murderer. All she needs is proof.

Condemned as a madwoman, Ianira spent ten years immured in an asylum for the Tainted—those who gain magic through death, at the cost of their sanity. Now released on probation, she’s desperate to expose her sister’s murderer and reclaim her freedom. But only one man holds the truth: her first love, Lucien Blackwood. Unfortunately, since he’s the prime suspect, things are a bit...complicated between them.

After a decade of silence, Lucien is finally re-opening the doors to Blackwood Manor for a once-in-a-lifetime competition. He’s seeking a successor to inherit his family’s magic; a proposal that’s too tempting for the greedy residents of Callidor to resist. It’s also Ianira’s last chance to confront him before he leaves the city for good.

The succession takes a deadly turn when Lucien enchants his guests with a slow-acting poison and seals them inside the manor. With only seven days to earn an antidote, Ianira has no choice but to compete if she’s going to expose Lucien’s crimes. As stakes rise and old feelings stir new passion between them, Ianira and Lucien are faced with an impossible choice: die holding on to their demons or live to become something far worse.