Tess is finally safe from the reach of the Council, now that she is living in the Middlelands with the rebel Isolationists. With James having returned to Templeton, she easily falls back into her friendship with Henry, though her newfound knowledge of Robert's chosen one status still stings. Even surrounded by people, Tess has never felt more alone. So she's thrilled when James returns to the settlement, demanding to see Tess - until she finds out that it's because her sister, Louisa, has been recruited into Tess's old position at Templeton, and that the dangerously sadistic chosen one George has taken an interest in her.