Geraldine struggles to find a way to acquire a map of espial (a magical tool that needs to be used alongside Vard’s eyeball to locate the remaining rifts). All known maps are heavily guarded and Gabriel has foreseen failure in every plan to steal one. Her father, Hamish, arrives to take her to see her betrothed, Justin Masters, who has just been exonerated and released from his cell. Geraldine feels bound to Justin but she is in love with Max Rigel.

She flees to the kitchens, where Max finds her and confides his love for her. Geraldine decides she is willing to break off her betrothal to be with him.

Lionel threatens Vard, for being unable to provide useful prophecies after losing his magical eye. When Orion, Darius and Geraldine entered the palace to steal the eye, they inadvertently killed the monstrous Heir Lavinia birthed (this was the spider-like creature that attacked Geraldine). Lionel is secretly relieved and rejects Lavinia’s ongoing sexual advances. He plans to get Mildred (a young Fae who is part of the Dragon Order) pregnant with a new Heir (he had previously tried to marry Mildred to Darius for the same purpose).

Lionel then goes to a live television interview with a journalist named Portia Silverstone, intending to cement his public image. However, Portia hijacks the interview and uses it to publicly humiliate Lionel. Lionel is left even angrier with the rebels.

Darcy and Orion discuss their relationship; she is frustrated with the secrecy while he insists he doesn’t want to have any negative impact on her. Eventually, Orion concedes and publicly declares his love. The rebels are now all aware of their romantic relationship. Later that night, Darcy is mysteriously drawn towards a hill outside the Burrows. Orion joins here there and they realize they are being magically recognized as Elysian Mates (soulmates and true loves). Orion and Darcy accept the bond and become magically connected, heightening their attachment and desire for one another.

Immediately after they accept the bond, Darcy and Orion are ambushed and arrested by agents who work for Lionel. While they are frightened, the magical force of the new bond renders them unable to think about anything besides their physical need for each other. They are put in a shared cell in a detention facility.

Darius and Tory learn that Darcy and Orion have been arrested and rush to help them. They use magic to destroy the detention facility building, freeing Darcy and Orion. Francesca Sky (an agent who is secretly loyal to the rebel cause) intervenes and helps subdue the other agents. She provides the twins and their lovers with the map of espial (which Geraldine has been seeking so that it can be used to activate the powers of Vard’s eye) but declines to accompany them back to the Burrows: Francesca explains that she can work as a spy and feed them information. Darcy, Orion, Darius and Tory return to the Burrows.

Upon returning to The Burrows, Orion and Darcy announce their Elysian Mate status to their friends and the rebels. Geraldine explains that this divine bond exonerates Orion from his Power Shamed status, as no one would dare question the stars’ judgment. This is proven true when Hamish, who previously despised Orion, celebrates the news with joy.

A massive party erupts to celebrate the couple. The rebels, who once shunned Orion, now embrace him. Tyler publishes a news article revealing the truth of Orion’s past: he accepted the Power Shaming and a prison sentence to protect Darcy from scandal when their relationship was exposed.

During the party, Caleb is miserable as he watches Seth dance with Rosalie Oscura (a beautiful member of the Werewolf Order). Later, Caleb sees Seth and Rosalie leave the party together. Fearing they have gone to have sex, he follows the sound of moaning to an isolated room. Inside, he finds Rosalie having sex with another female Werewolf, not Seth. Rosalie tells Caleb that he and Seth are fated to be together. Relieved, Caleb resolves to find Seth and finally address the unresolved tension between them.

Seth goes to Darcy and Orion’s room and catches them in an intimate moment. Caleb enters the room and misinterprets a chaotic scene as evidence that Seth and Orion are sexually involved. He becomes jealous and possessive and drags Seth out of the room. There, Caleb insists their previous sexual encounter was meaningless and that he just wants their friendship back. Heartbroken, Seth lies and agrees, claiming it was just casual for him as well. Caleb insists that Seth will now sleep in his bed with him every night.

Darius tells Tory he wants to be the one to kill Lionel. The group uses the map of espial and the magical eye (stolen from Vard) to locate seven portals. They will need to break into small teams to simultaneously travel to and target the portals. Tory and Darius are separated for the mission, despite his protests.

Tory and Caleb find and close their assigned rift. They return to The Burrows as the other teams arrive, all having succeeded with a few challenges along the way. With the rifts closed, Lionel and Lavinia’s power is significantly weakened, and Darius announces his intention to kill Lionel alone that night. When the group objects, he reveals his secret: last Christmas, he made a deal with the stars to save the twins’ lives by trading his own. He is fated to die by Christmas. Devastated and betrayed, Tory flees.

The group is stunned by Darius’s revelation. Darcy flies after Tory, while the others reel from the news. Orion confronts Gabriel, who admits he knew about the deal but was bound to secrecy. Gabriel also confirms that the fate cannot be changed. Orion embraces Darius, understanding why he made the sacrifice but heartbroken by the impending loss.

Darius is saddened by watching his friends and family grieve. Eventually, Tory returns. She is still furious but refuses to waste their remaining time fighting. She explains that a large-scale attack on Lionel will take place at his palace within days and she makes Darius swear not to attack his father before the battle. She also asks Darius to swear to fight his fated death. Darius resists at first, explaining the vow is futile but eventually makes a promise that he “won’t allow this fate to pass” (865). Tory binds herself to the same vow, declaring they will defy fate together. They have passionate, emotional sex, and afterward Darius asks Tory to marry him. She agrees.

The next morning, they have an impromptu wedding surrounded by friends and family. Forgoing tradition, they simply claim each other as husband and wife, exchange rings, and kiss.

A war council is held, planning the attack on The Palace of Souls in one week. During a rally to energize the rebels, Caleb receives a magical message from his mother, Melinda. She warns that Lionel has summoned the Councillors to his private estate and is holding their children (the alternate Heirs) hostage. Fearing for their siblings, Caleb, Darius, Max, and Seth decide to leave immediately on a rescue mission. Before departing, Caleb consults Gabriel, who is unable to accurately prophecy what will happen. Caleb, Darius, Max, and Seth depart secretly, without informing the twins or the other rebels.

Darcy and Tory are informed by Gabriel that the Heirs have left on the dangerous rescue mission. Before they can react, Nymphs abruptly attack. The twins take command, organizing the rebels and arming them. The rebel army emerges to find a massive enemy force of Nymphs and Dragons, led by Lionel and Lavinia. A full-scale battle begins.

Darius, Caleb, Max, and Seth arrive at Acrux Manor (Lionel’s estate). They can hear screams from inside. They form a plan to infiltrate the manor and land on the roof, preparing to find a way inside.