After years of war, the Realm exists in a tenuous peace. Calix Kalidii is a prince, son of the man who sits the throne, and he cares little for the burdens of his inheritance; an arranged marriage, constant politicking, and being the fifthborn son has only brought him angst. Reluctantly accepting his duty as a prince, Calix ignores the sadistic tendency of his brothers, suffers through the lofty expectations of his father, tolerates his marriage and the excessive politics, and ignores the pleas of the Astoma - the oppressed people who warred against the Kalidii for control of the throne. But when a dagger in the night attempts to end his life, Calix is thrust head-first into the brutal realization that he is never truly safe. There is a dark plot hatching within the Citadel, one unbeknownst to Calix and his family. Coins exchange hands, silent whispers are uttered in the blackest of nights, and blades shine red with spilled blood. Calix is living on borrowed time. He must make a decision whether to ensure the survival of his family, sacrificing countless lives in the process - or watch the throne devour them whole. There is no right or wrong. There is only survival, and the only path to victory is through blood.