Lady Thrisiara of Maltiere had been forced to drop her title, move to the capital of Aistydil, Wellbrinne, and find her own way in life as a commoner. She had done very well, becoming a Detective in the Royal Police and distinguished in previous cases. She had a great friend in the Ambassador to Lady Kilthiae, Rianrielle, and that friend was married to her partner on the police force. Then a new crime spree changed everything. Her captain died under highly mysterious circumstances. A newspaper editor, a Palace Protection Captain, and a head chef at the palace followed. No one could make sense of how the so-called Silent Sleeper could make everyone in the room sleep except for the victim, who was tortured and killed. Detective Thrisiara was neck deep in trying to solve what was going on or to at least prevent another killing. Meanwhile, she met a man in one of her favorite spots in the park, a bench she frequented to help her think. The problem: he turns out to be Rarithlis, the Crown Prince of Aistydil, and neither one of them can keep from a desire to be friends despite their differences. They fall in love despite the fact they couldn't be together as the situation was, but the two of them will have a lot more to worry about than that. The Silent Sleeper grows nearer, and his thirst for blood has a larger target in mind.