What choice will you make, when the shadows close around you? Taline will do anything to get back to Nin. Rone will do anything to keep the scepter from the emperor's hand. Nin will do anything to leave her past behind as she is forced to confront it amid bloody battlefields, relentless assassins, and the emperor's glittering and diabolical court. And Kaveh, as he wrecks worlds with Nin at his side... Kaveh starts to think he will do anything to bind Nin to him permanently. Madness lurks, bonds of steel are forged, power reigns, and loyalty is put to the ultimate test. And to all, beware-the House of Scepters never died.