The novel begins where The Indigo Spell left off, when Alchemist Sydney Sage proclaimed her love to the Moroi Adrian Ivashkov.

Sydney begins to accept her path in defying the Alchemists by being initiated in Jacklyn Terwilliger's coven of witches, which is named The Stelle.

Previously turning to alcohol and cigarettes to mute Spirit's effects, he and Sydney have made a pact to cut down on their vices (hers being caffeine addiction) in order to try live a healthier lifestyle.

An incident with one of Adrian's fellow college artist friends, a student named Rowena, causes a block of concrete to fall on her hand while she is constructing a sculpture.

Sydney finds him in a disheveled state, and suggests that Adrian begin taking anti-depressants in order to cut him off from Spirit and thus the darkness.

Inez is at first a little sarcastic and bitter, but eventually warms up to Sydney when she sees how committed she is after making her change her flat tire, and that she has already been initiated into a coven.

Adrian meets the newly restored Dhampir Olive, and senses that there is Spirit magic still lingering in her blood.

He begins to hear the voice of his late aunt Tatiana again, who encourages him to sell the cuff-links she had once bought him for his birthday.

Sydney pays the money Adrian owes and breaks down in front of him once she drives him home, telling him she is scared of how far Spirit's darkness might take him over.

Sydney, frightened that Keith has turned into a lifeless husk of himself, takes the initiative in re-creating Marcus's ink.

Sydney compiles a list for Abe Mazur to acquire the necessary ingredients, and requests that he get her double the amount in case she were to make a mistake.

While waiting, Adrian and Sydney take the opportunity away from Alchemist eyes to spend time together as a couple touring the Moroi Court.

After finishing the ink mixture for the blood, Sydney is confronted by Abe, who catches on to the fact that she wanted double the ingredients and senses she needed it for her own purposes.

Abe agrees to use Earth magic to charm the vials of Moroi blood in the mix of tattoo ingredients, and promises he won't tell anyone.

Lissa attempts damage control of the incident by making Adrian, Sydney, and Neil leave Court as soon as possible, anticipating backlash from the Alchemists.

Neil confronts Sydney, telling her he would keep her secret but he needs her help to track down a Strigoi in order to truly find out if the tattoo worked.