"...never trust a Pebble Pincher." It's been twenty years since the Slates crossed the sea to battle the tyrannical Ràej in the Great War, eliminating the higher magics and liberating the people of Omneth. With them they brought Pebbles filled with gifted magic so that everyone would have the same access to magic. The sovereignty was replaced with Officials; new buildings to house them and their politics, molded from whence they came. And the royal summer castle turned into an Academy to grow the ranks of Officials. Terhese's dream of attending the Academy to become an Official is within her grasp...until she bursts forth with her true powers, in the middle of the Academy Ball, and knocks her date flat off his feet. She is quickly rescued by the handsome, boy-next-door Jensen and whisked away to a secluded cabin so he can cover up her mess. Her accidental display of the forbidden and illegal higher magic is punishable by death. After being warned by Jensen to hide her secret, she finds it harder than she thought it would be. Temptations pull from all sides at the Academy as she spends time with new friends on the beach and around the bonfires at night, passing the bottles of green and amber liquor, especially when the suave and charming upperclassman, Mark, has her wrapped around his finger. Lies unravel around her and long-buried truths surface. How long can she live among the people that may be her biggest threat?