Lieutenant Commander Danilo Altamura is torn between his commitment to his city and his desperate desire to escape the clutches of his deranged father, High General Llodis Altamura. When Danilo's blood bonds with a powerful Stormthrower sword, Llodis labels him a traitor and he flees to Audantei's deadly alleyways, where survival means staying hidden. But after stumbling upon an unexpected incident during the city's notorious Hanging Day, his world takes a dark and twisted turn.


Seeking refuge among Audantei's enemies, the Stormthrowers, Danilo strikes a deal with their reticent leader, Enzo Sapienti. In exchange for safety, Danilo finds himself a captive among the most dangerous of their kind.


As secrets unravel and loyalties shift, Danilo's dormant magic is awakened, revealing the true extent of his exile. With Royal Beseecher hunting him, and Llodis becoming a captive to the Stormthrowers, Danilo must choose which fate to face: Enzo's threats or his father's tantalizing promises.