Celani is the ideal spy: charming, clever, graceful. And a telepath. Her unique magic makes her the best among those at the Dusklight Tree, where she lives under the care of the enigmatic Master. Her missions allow her to see the world, have adventure, even fall in love . . . if only for a few days at a time. When a mission sends her after an abducted man, within his mind she finds a dangerous secret: a powerful spell she barely understands, and it attaches itself to her. She aborts her mission and barely escapes with her life. She then realizes that she can't trust the Master with the spell now dwelling within her, and if she can't trust him with this, why should she trust him with anything else? Her next mission is clear-deceive the Master and escape the Dusklight Tree forever. Even if it means lying to her childhood friend and leaving behind everything she's ever known. She wants to see the world on her own, have adventures of her choosing, and fall in love for real. The Master won't let her go easily. To safeguard her stolen spell and her own life, she will have to evade capture and fight back against the Master's agents. Her own friends.