Picking up at the beginning of Frostbite: Rose finds herself isolated from her tutor Dimitri and trying to recover from the charm incident (from the last book). But Rose's qualifier forces them to drive across country to the Badica's to be evaluated by another legendary dhampir. Will Rose and Dimitri finally move past their awkward "almost?" And what will be waiting for Rose when they get to the Badicas?
After arriving at the Badica's, Rose and Dimitri discover all of the royal family and their guardians dead, bodies scattered everywhere. They also find a haunting message written in blood, promising to kill more royal families but starting with the smaller ones first. Realizing who that means will be at the top of the strigoi's pecking order, Rose and Dimitri run to the secret safe house Lissa and Christian have been staying at since the Victor incident. Will they make it in time? And who will Rose find has been keeping her friend from her all this time?
Upon arriving at the school, Rose encounters a mysterious stranger. Unable to avoid each other, Rose and Dimitri finally are forced to confront each other. And devastation strikes again for the Moroi and Dhampir family at the school. Choices will be made that once they're enacted, there will be no turning back.