The sun god Atroxus observes as two mortal girls approach his altar. While he normally bestows his favor, and his unique gifts, on only the “most flawless faces, the most powerful warriors, the most skilled sorcerers” (9), he sees something in Mische—the younger, entirely average sister—who offers him a simple feather. The sun god gives Mische the gift of fire, devastating her elder sister Saescha. Though he plans to treat Mische like all the others in his collection—loyal followers whom he can put aside when they don’t suit him—he cannot foresee the tumultuous future she’ll bring.

Mische sits in a jail cell in House of Shadow territory, mourning the loss of her fire magic. Since being forcibly turned into a vampire long ago by the Shadowborn Prince—whom she’s been imprisoned for murdering—she has been abandoned by the sun god, and any attempt to use his magic leaves her with new burn scars. While imprisoned, Mische thinks of the confiscated letters from her House of Night friends, Raihn and Oraya, which she has been unable to read.

Egrette, the sister of the Shadowborn Prince Mische killed, visits her cell. Using the Shadowborn powers of mind magic and compulsion, Egrette searches Mische’s memories and confirms that Mische was responsible for her brother Malach’s death.