Cassie's soul cries for justice yet seeking revenge blinds her from those who care about her. Taking on the load of chieftain, after her brother's death, and the responsibilities that go along with it, including the care of the younger tree trolls, she longs for adult companionship. The majority of her clan had died in the war with the humans and Cassie is traumatized from watching the king's dragons feast on her friends. Trying to survive and control the fortress from the greedy king's hands, Cassie is at her wit's end. King Roark enlists his sister-in-law, Larkin in his cause and she kidnaps Cassie, placing her in the dungeon. Larkin stabs Cassie's thigh and it becomes infected, but she escapes. Cassie is on the run when a dragon finds her. Tossing her sword at the dragon's heart she kills it. Now she is wanted for murder and treason. Cassie learns she must learn to trust her friends and ask for help.