What makes a leader?The idea of following her mother as Queen of the Kartik is so distasteful to Jestia that upon learning that her brother has died leaving her the Heir Apparent, she grabs her lover, jumps on a Katabull fishing vessel, and heads for the Kartik-held territories.Of course, the Katabull believe that only one who doesn't want to rule will make a good leader, which makes Jestia just about perfect.Sympathizing with the young witch, Tarius the Black helps her to escape her responsibility to the Crown, but when a plot against the kingdom takes what Tarius loves most in the world, she must get Jestia back to the Kartik or all will be lost.