All hope for the future seems lost when Gwendolyn's prince turns out to be anything but charming. Only now, having united the dragon banners, she realizes too late that Loc is not her one true love... Upon learning that his bride's hair is not gold, Loc reveals his true nature. Ambitious and cruel, he never wanted his ill-favored Cornish Bride. Now, with the help of his greedy mistress, Estrildis, he's turned his gambits toward removing the old kings from their thrones, so he can rule in their stead. If his dull little bride provides nothing more, she'll deliver him Pretania's crown... But prophecies are mercurial by nature, and the Fae have their own schemes... As Gwendolyn feared, her father is ailing, and the land is suffering. To make matters worse, the half-blood she fears holds her heart has abandoned her to her fate. To find her true destiny, Cornwall's new queen must face new trials at the Loegrian court, and the wiles of an ambitious mistress, in order to seek her true self and find her true love.