Louth loves architectural drawing. Unfortunately, there is no demand for her skills in the rural area where she grew up. Determined to find work for her family business that will allow her to do what she loves, she spends the winter in the capital city networking with the wealthy. Except no one will talk to her. She's too young, too backwoods, and too vocal. Achaj is a creature of stone streets and crowded taverns. When he’s assigned a politically sensitive investigation in a remote village—one plagued by rumors of Gryphon attacks—he knows he’ll need help from someone who thrives where there are more trees than people. When they meet at a dinner party where Louth is failing yet again to find work, Achaj offers a deal: assist him with his investigation and he will introduce her to clients interested in hiring her family. As they discover the truth about the Gryphon attacks, their partnership turns into something neither expected. But then winter ends. Louth is going home. Now they must decide if what they have is special enough to survive when their lives are pulling them in opposite directions.