Time passes and Darius observes that Tory/Roxy is successfully maintaining the façade of still being under Lionel’s magical sway. She regularly receives the Order Suppressant potion, but this is counterbalanced by Gabriel routinely administering the antidote. Darius regularly spends time with Orion, and they research information about the Imperial Star. Unexpectedly, Tory/Roxy and Darius run into each other and they have their first candid conversation since her memories were restored. They are interrupted by Seth and Caleb.

Tory/Roxy asks about the Guardian bond, and Darius explains that the pull is worse for the Guardian than the Ward, meaning Orion suffers the stronger pull to stay near Darius, just as Tory/Roxy suffers the stronger pull toward Lionel. To offer Tory some relief from the magical longing to be close to Lionel, Darius takes her out of the Fae realm and into the human realm. Crossing this boundary weakens the force of the magic. It also weakens the force of the curse that affects them: Tory and Darius are Elysian Mates (true, fated loves), but when Tory previously rejected Darius, they became marked as Star Crossed lovers (fated mates who have missed their chance to be together). This causes storms and other cosmic unrest whenever they are alone together. 

Darius and Tory travel to Times Square in New York City. After a dramatic and adventurous date, they return to the land of the Fae. Upon their return to Zodiac Academy, Tory examines Darius’s new tattoo, which reads “There is only her” (299). Before the curse forces them apart again, she admits that she is still afraid of him but describes it as a “good kind of fear” (299).

Seth secretly hopes to reunite Darcy and Orion by making Orion jealous. He starts sending Orion photos of himself looking intimate with Darcy. Meanwhile, he struggles with his own unrequited feelings for Caleb. While the group hunts Nymphs together, a Nymph breaks Seth’s leg, and Caleb heals him. Seth decides that to preserve their friendship, he must suppress his romantic feelings for Caleb, a resolution that causes him deep pain.

Tory accompanies Lionel to an important celebration where members of the Dragon Order affirm their loyalty. She is approached by Dante Oscura, a Fae from the Dragon Order, who asks for her help repelling magical coercion that Lionel is imposing on him. Dante knows that Tory is no longer under Lionel’s control since Gabriel told him. Tory breaks the spell and then dances with Darius until Mildred jealously intervenes.

Orion approaches Tory and comforts her as she watches Darius dance with Mildred. Orion realizes Lionel has given his wife, Catalina, to another Dragon, Christopher, for the night, using coercion magic to ensure that Catalina submits to an unwanted sexual encounter. Horrified, Tory and Orion slip away and rescue her. Gabriel joins them (his foresight having alerted him to what was happening) and they stage the scene to look as if Christopher accidentally killed Catalina. Gabriel takes Catalina away to safety, promising that she will still be able to see her sons.

Seth continues to send provocative photos to Orion, rendering the latter frustrated and jealous. Orion is distracted when Clara (his sister) comes to see him. Orion seizes the opportunity to attempt to tell Clara that Lionel is using dark magic to manipulate her, but Clara is fully under Lionel’s sway. She is about to attack Orion when Tory arrives and stops her. After Clara leaves, Tory gives Orion a magical ring that grants him access to the palace’s secret tunnels, allowing him to leave his confinement undetected.

After Tory leaves, Orion receives another message from Seth. The message implies that Seth and Darcy are having a sexual relationship (this is all part of Seth’s secret plan to get Darcy and Orion back together). Enraged, Orion uses the magical ring to sneak out of the palace and travels to the Zodiac Academy dorm rooms. He finds Darcy asleep in bed with Seth, who is in his Wolf form. Devastated, he goes to Darius’s dorm room, seeking the comfort of their Guardian Bond. 

Darius is unconvinced that Seth and Darcy are in a sexual relationship and promises to find out what is really going on. As Darius and Orion discuss their plans, the latter is shocked to learn that Darius doesn’t intend to support Tory and Darcy ascending to the throne if they defeat Lionel. Darius still thinks that he and the other Heirs should become the rulers and is hurt that Orion does not agree. Orion leaves to sneak back into the palace. 

The next night, it is the full moon and Orion reads his father’s diary. Darius approaches him and they reconcile, agreeing to disagree about future plans for the kingdom and focus on unseating Lionel. The diary informs Orion that the Imperial Star is located in his father’s tomb at the Everhill Graveyard and that the Vega twins’ rings are the keys.

Orion goes to the Zodiac Academy and reveals he knows the location of the Imperial Star, explaining that they need Darcy and Tory’s rings to access his father’s tomb. Despite Orion’s warnings that the area is protected by dangerous dark magic, Darcy and the entire friend group insist on going with him. Moments later, Tory and Darius join them. The group travels to the gates of Everhill Graveyard. Orion explains that the perimeter is guarded by Reaper Hounds, magical beasts whose gaze can rip a soul from its body. To pass them safely, the group holds hands and walks with their eyes shut while Darius throws an enchanted Fae bone to draw the hounds away, buying them time to reach the gate.

Once inside, the group is attacked by magically reanimating skeletal corpses. During the ensuing battle, Seth is severely burned. Caleb heals Seth, who then allows Caleb to drink his blood to replenish his power. They share an intimate, charged moment that is interrupted when they hear Geraldine scream from another part of the graveyard, and Caleb rushes back to the fight.

Orion leads Darcy away from the main battle to find his father’s tomb. Once inside, they are trapped as their magic is mysteriously suppressed. The tomb holds only the sarcophagus containing Azriel Orion’s bones; the Imperial Star is not there.

Frustrated, the pair begin arguing and Orion finally explains he went to prison to protect Darcy’s reputation and her claim to the throne. After Darcy confirms she is not involved with Seth, Orion kisses her passionately. She pulls away, urging him to refocus on their mission to find the Imperial Star. Suddenly, a spell activates, compelling Orion (who is part of the Vampire order) to feel an intense urge to feed on Darcy’s blood. Clinging to self-control, he begs her to run away from him.

Back in the graveyard, the other friends continue to fight against the ghosts. Geraldine fights valiantly and Max comes to help her. They share a kiss and continue fighting.

Under the force of the spell Orion attacks Darcy repeatedly. She struggles to defend herself without hurting him. She manages to escape through a secret passage, leading to a winding maze beneath the graveyard, but Orion pursues her. Darcy reaches the center of the maze, where she discovers a large sarcophagus surrounded by stone statues. She feels the unmistakable magical pulse of the Imperial Star and realizes it has been hidden here all along. As Orion closes in, Darcy hides, resolved to die rather than be forced to kill the man she still loves.