Never and Rikeva are stranded.

Defeating the Burnished King has come at a heavy cost. Never and Rikeva find themselves trapped in the time of his ancestors, captured by Amouni Guardians.

Guardians who immediately brand Never as a mongrel ? and Rikeva as a worthless, 'untamed' commoner. Yet before seeking their execution, the Amouni decide to harvest Never's blood in order to further the goals of their purity-obsessed empire.

Discovering the hard way that his powers are no longer the peerless advantage they once were, Never is forced to cooperate with untrustworthy allies on a desperate quest to escape and keep Rikeva safe long enough to find their way home... if one actually exists.