Sisters Lu and Min have always known their places as the princesses of the Empire of the First Flame: assertive Lu will be named her father's heir and become the dynasty's first female ruler, while timid Min will lead a quiet life in Lu's shadow. Until their father names a new heir--their male cousin, Set. Determined to reclaim her birthright, Lu goes in search of allies, leaving Min to face the volatile court alone. Lu soon crosses paths with Nokhai, the lone, unlikely survivor of a clan of nomadic wolf shapeshifters. Nok never learned to shift--or to trust the empire which killed his family--but working with Lu might be the only way to unlock his true power. As Lu and Nok form a tenuous alliance, Min's own power awakens, a forbidden magic which could secure Set's reign--or allow her to claim the throne herself. But there can be only one emperor, and each sister's greatest enemy could very well be each other.