The Crusade against mages is long over and those that adhere to the Pact and its rules have nothing to fear from the likes of the Inquisition. Amarana [Mara] a lycanthrope of the Clan Iralycus has been trained since she was a child to fulfill her role in the age-old contract with the Mages of the Pact, the contract that protects her people despite the monstrous nature of their bloodline from the Inquisitors of the Church. She is destined to become the Housefang of a Pact Mage, a proud lycanthrope servant that acts as the primary bodyguard and warrior to a mage of appropriate rank and skill, considered to be a Copper Blood by law. However her supposed purpose takes an unexpected shape as she is assigned to Lord Cortenan, once a secretive rogue mage who suddenly joined the Pact after years of isolation and antagonism. Forced to take part in his mysterious plot, Mara tries to keep her new master in check while trying to uphold the honor and responsibility of her role in the Order of the Silver Shackle.