With her boyfriend Jack trapped in the Tunnels of the Everneath, Nikki is trying hard to evade Cole's grasp. But how long can she avoid him?
Cole is now more desperate than ever to find out about Nikki as is seems she is his best chance of taking over the thrown of the underworld. How did she survive the Feed? And can Cole find another Forfeit like her who can survive it too?
Cole's quest leads him to a mysterious and dangerous society known as the Delphinians, whose price for information might be higher than Cole can pay - a price that could destroy Nikki. But when Cole attempts to steal the answers instead, his mission ends in disaster. Faced with centuries in a Delphinian dungeon, Cole is confronted with questions he's been too scared to ask himself: Is he really obsessed with the throne - or is he obsessed with Nikki? And can she really give him a new beginning as the Everneath's king . . . or will she instead bring about his tragic end?