Nineteen-year-old Nessa Thorne expects death when she volunteers for Empires selection. Instead, shes thrust into Confluence Academy, where students harness elemental magic and bond powerful beasts—from wolves to ancient dragons—forging themselves into the Empires most lethal weapons.

Students are branded by affinity: water, air, earth, or fire. But Nessa’s mark is different. A silver spiral—the mark of an unbound. It’s a power so dangerous her kind were hunted to extinction centuries ago—or so the Empire claims.

To survive, she must hide what she is in a castle that reeks of blood, where students kill eachother for advantage and failing to tether an...

Nineteen-year-old Nessa Thorne expects death when she volunteers for Empires selection. Instead, shes thrust into Confluence Academy, where students harness elemental magic and bond powerful beasts—from wolves to ancient dragons—forging themselves into the Empires most lethal weapons.

Students are branded by affinity: water, air, earth, or fire. But Nessa’s mark is different. A silver spiral—the mark of an unbound. It’s a power so dangerous her kind were hunted to extinction centuries ago—or so the Empire claims.

To survive, she must hide what she is in a castle that reeks of blood, where students kill eachother for advantage and failing to tether an elemental means death.

Nessa’s greatest threat may be the only other volunteer—Raith Hollow, a powerful fire affinity whose scorching gaze follows her every move and whose secrets could topple kingdoms.

Alliances are forged in blood, enemies circle like vultures, and forbidden desires close in. Death once seemed like release from her tragic past. Now its not an option. Shell embrace her terrible potential or watch everything shes fought for burn.

At Confluence Academy, students leave as weapons or they dont leave at all.