Following the defeat of their family's greatest enemy, Natividad and her brothers have begun to feel that, against all odds, they may have succeeded in making a new home for themselves among the black dogs of Dimilioc. But keeping that home safe involves challenges they never anticipated, as new enemies, rivals, and uncertain allies maneuver for advantage in a world where everything supernatural has been exposed to the sight of ordinary humans.

Then Dimilioc is shaken by the arrival of someone unexpected: Justin, the only male with Pure magic they've ever encountered.

Justin -- untrained in traditional Pure magic, uniquely talented, and dealing with problems of his own -- isn't at all sure he wants to join Dimilioc. But Natividad understands that if her own family and Dimilloic are going to survive, they need every asset they can gather. If the black dogs of Dimilioc can't persuade Justin he belongs with them, then Natividad has a plan ...

But when enemies move unexpectedly against Dimilioc and against Justin himself, every plan collapses, and Natividad finds herself on her own, with no one but Justin to help as she faces a terrible danger she never imagined.