Kaid had only known the prison Caladin his entire life. Caladin tests capability with brutal and deadly Trials designed to reveal a persons Magic. Magic was once the driving force of the world, and now resulted in permanent imprisonment  or secrecy to protect non-Magic aristocrats and rulers. Content with his life in prison with little knowledge of the outside world, that all changes when Jessamine becomes his cell mate.  Empress Jessamine is ruler of Vitross with only one goal in mind: survival. Her imprisonment in Caladin was no surprise, and soon she begins to entangle Kaid into a life he never imagined. Jessamine is in need of a protector, and Kaid's extraordinary ability to control time makes him the perfect candidate. It also makes him capable of rewriting history, in more ways than one.  However, Jessamine is holding on to a secret she can't reveal. Her past before Kaid is being questioned and she can't outrun it. Her Magic to control minds and consciousness makes everyone question if she really is the benevolent Empress she portrays to be. Or is she being set up to become the monster her own father wanted her to become?  This secret will betray the man she now loves, and his ability to control time makes both of them realize just how little time they actually have.