After surviving her fight in the Aikhtiar tournament, Serein picks up her blades again—this time as King Sethos' assassin. With each enemy she hunts down, she wades deeper into a world of death and secrets, faking the deaths of those who could be potential allies and help Rameses overthrow his father. Lurking around every corner is the threat of discovery and Xansas' shadow.

Beneath the mask of loyalty, Serein plots against Xansas and Sethos while old magic stirs and hidden forces make their move. She and Uriah follow leads to track down the leader of the Bone Vipers, who evades capture. Rameses faces an impending betrothal that forces him to decide when to make a move against his father. Rebel attacks increase, striking at the heart of the city. With each dangerous mission Serein undertakes, more pieces of the Malik's plans are revealed, but with them come more questions.

Success balances on a knife's edge, and one wrong move could destroy Serein’s chance to kill her enemies and finally be free.