During the first attack on Christian, Rose sees Mason's ghost and freezes – and is accused of being a sore loser by her teachers.

Meanwhile, Rose overhears that Victor Dashkov's trial is coming soon – and that she and Lissa aren't going to be called to testify.

Adrian and Lissa are growing closer (in a teacher-student sense) while practicing their Spirit use, making Christian jealous.

After Rose settles a fight between Lissa and Christian, she begins to sense changes in herself – mainly feelings of intense anger (even more than is usual).

Lissa meets with Queen Tatiana to discuss her future; she agrees to go to a college close to Court, and voices her opinion on Moroi fighting with Dhamphirs.

On the plane ride back to the academy, Rose gets another horrible migraine, this time drawing the attention of Alberta and Dimitri.

When they are forced to make an unscheduled stop at a human airport to refuel during a snow storm, Rose's migraine becomes much worse, and when she steps off the plane, she sees the ghosts of Lissa's parents and brother, along with many others.

While back at school, her temper still increases, though she does successfully defeat Dimitri as a "Strigoi" while guarding Christian.

Lissa is approached by Jesse and Ralf to join Mână, and she accepts their invitation as a chance to spy on them, without Rose's knowing.

Rose attempts to run to the infirmary, where she knows they would take Jesse, but Dimitri subdues her and forces her to let go of her anger.

Eddie and several other novices are guarding Lissa and the other Moroi, so Rose sneaks out the small window to go after Christian.

After the battle, Rose learns that this is one of the biggest groups of Strigoi – who are typically loners – to ever attack any Moroi or Dhamphirs.

Janine, Dimitri, and Rose plan a counterattack, and reluctantly enlist the help of other Dhamphir novices and, surprisingly, several Moroi teachers to harness their power as a weapon.

When the army reaches the caves the Strigoi are hiding in, Rose is forced to stay outside while Janine and Dimitri lead the attack inside.

As she leaves the academy, Rose says good bye to Mason, then heads off to Siberia, where she believes Dimitri would go first; back to his hometown.