At the palace Christmas party, Caleb and Seth see that Darius and Tory/Roxy have safely returned. They leave to take advantage of the cavernous palace to play a flirtatious hunting game. They run into Xavier in the kitchen and the three are startled to hear screams. They locate a hidden staircase and a secret laboratory beneath the palace. They discover a man named Gravebone, whom Xavier recognizes as an “Order Conversion Therapist” who previously tortured him. Gravebone and Vard are experimenting on Fae from “lesser” Orders on Lionel’s behalf, trying to change their forms in a process that has killed many. They learn there are dozens of other captives. 

Caleb, Seth, and Xavier resolve to free the captives. Gabriel unexpectedly joins them (his visions have alerted him to their need for help). They release the prisoners and Gabriel tells Caleb, Seth, and Xavier to hurry back to the party before their absence is noticed. He promises to lead the escaped Fae to safety (Geraldine’s father, Hamish, will shelter them).

Hiding at Gabriel’s house, Darcy and Orion use Diego’s hat to reveal a magical vision from the past. She has visions of Lavinia, a powerful Nymph princess. The vision reveals Lavinia’s ruthless ambition to unseat the ruling Vega dynasty (Tory and Darcy’s ancestors), conquer the Fae and rule Solaria. Lavinia allies with Octavius Acrux (the ancestor of Darius and Lionel) who promises to help her defeat the “Phoenix Queen” (the Vega Queen). However, in a climactic battle, the Vega Queen used the Imperial Star to defeat Lavinia, strip all Nymphs of their magic, and banish Lavinia to a shadow realm. Octavius reneged on his promise and, rather than coming to Lavinia’s aid, sided with the Vega queen. 

Waking from the vision, Darcy and Orion realize Lavinia is the “Shadow Princess” controlling Clara. Their excitement about the prospect of returning Darcy to the throne as a rightful Vega queen leads to them kissing passionately. They are interrupted when Lionel attacks in dragon form, accompanied by Clara and the Seer, Vard. After a desperate fight, Darcy is captured.

At the party at the palace, Tory notices that Lionel and Clara have disappeared. She doesn’t know that they have attacked Darcy and Orion, believing that her sister and Orion are safe in hiding at Gabriel’s home. Lionel abruptly returns to the party and taunts Darius, announcing that he wants to begin a sexual relationship with Tory. Tory plays along, desperate to maintain the façade that she is still under the sway of Lionel’s magic. 

Lionel leads Tory to his chambers, where he reveals that he knows she has been using antidotes to undermine his magic and working against him. He administers the potion that suppresses her access to her magical powers. Tory fights back but Lionel and Clara subdue her.

The next morning, Darius is unaware of what has happened to Tory, Darcy, and Orion. At breakfast, Lionel shows Darius a video (filmed the previous night) of Roxy/Tory being tortured. Darius realizes that his father has figured out that Tory was working against him. Lionel demands that Darius marry Mildred (a Fae from the Dragon order) immediately so that they can produce the next generation of Acrux heirs. Lionel says that Tory will continue to be tortured until Mildred gets pregnant. Darius reluctantly agrees while Xavier (who is present at breakfast) promises to find Orion and get help. 

Later that same day, Darius marries Mildred in the palace chapel. Tory is present at the ceremony, and both are devastated by Darius’s forced marriage.

Meanwhile, Darcy awakens in a dungeon cell. She is restrained and her magic has been suppressed, preventing her from escaping. She is relieved to find she is still wearing the Imperial Star in her pendant; Lionel has not noticed it. She discovers Orion is in the adjacent cell, and they communicate through a hole in the wall, confirming they each still have the diary and Diego’s magical hat.

Orion expresses deep regret for his past actions but promises to fight for her now. Believing they are facing their end, he confesses his unwavering love for her. Before Darcy can respond, guards arrive. They mock and beat Orion before dragging him away to face another trial.

After the wedding, Mildred leads Darius to a suite to consummate the marriage. To Darius’s shock, Gabriel reveals himself: He used shape-shifting magic to take on Mildred’s appearance. Since Gabriel is already married and the wedding vows took place under trickery, Darius is not legally or magically bound to anyone (Gabriel has saved him from the forced marriage). Gabriel has hidden the real Mildred so no one will find her. 

Gabriel then reveals that Lionel captured Darcy and Lance Orion the preceding night. Moreover, Gabriel has seen a prophecy that one of the Vega sisters is fated to die today. The only chance to save them both, according to his vision, is for Darius to accompany him to some ancient magical caves. Darius trusts Gabriel’s vision and they leave the palace together through a secret passage.

Orion is moved from his cell into a large amphitheater, where Lionel has gathered a crowd to witness a public trial. After Orion openly defies him, Lionel brings Darcy into the arena and sentences her to death, announcing that she tried to kill him the previous night. Darcy publicly accuses Lionel of using magic to manipulate her father (Hail Vega) and asserts that Hail only committed atrocities under the sway of Lionel’s magic. 

Enraged, Lionel orders a group of Nymphs to be released into the pit: Darcy and Orion will now have to fight to the death.

Darius and Gabriel travel toward the secret caves. During the journey, Darius hears a mystical voice telling him that he faces two paths and must choose wisely. Darius and Gabriel enter the network of caves and descend to a large, magical cavern. Gabriel states he can go no further, revealing this is a test for Darius alone. He confirms that success will save the Vegas but will also fundamentally alter fate. Darius accepts the challenge. He steps into the darkness, and the mysterious voice tells him his destiny awaits.

In the arena, Darcy and Orion struggle to fight against the Nymphs. The pair are soon overwhelmed, wounded, and pinned to the ground by the creatures. Believing this is their end, they hold each other for a final moment. Just as the Nymphs are about to kill them, their friends stage a dramatic rescue. Seth and Geraldine burst into the arena, attacking their captors. Caleb appears, first healing Darcy then Orion, before injecting Darcy with the Order Suppressant antidote to restore her magic and unlocking their cuffs; he then gives Orion a powerful magic sword. As a chaotic battle erupts with more allies arriving, Darcy allows Orion to feed on her magic to recharge. With their powers returned and hope renewed, Darcy begins to fight back, killing many Nymphs.