Aurelia carries the child of Cade, the Wolf King, when he brings a human noblewoman, Celeste, into the palace. He treats Aurelia as a burden. Celeste sabotages the elixir Aurelia's mother gave her life to obtain, and frames Aurelia for poisoning. Cade refuses to listen. He throws Aurelia into the abyss that erodes bone, and the heart-protecting pill goes to Celeste instead. On the night of a lunar eclipse, Aurelia jumps into the dark.
Only after her death does Cade fall apart. When the truth surfaces, he strips Celeste of her title and leaves her to be devoured by wolves in a hidden valley. He offers his heart's blood and demonic power each day, even breaking his own bones, in a desperate attempt to bring Aurelia back. Aurelia returns with a claim to the throne, and the question becomes what Cade has left to lose.
