"'I knew forcing a confrontation with Neferet here and now wasn't smart. But I couldn't stop myself. . . ' Zoey finds herself weakened, this time by the brutal death of her mother. While Neferet gathers the forces of Darkness, Zoey must battle grief to rally her own troops; not least Stevie Rae and her newly human consort Rephaim, who has finally turned his back on his cruel immortal father, Kalona. Working to create chaos at the House of Night, Neferet has joined with the White Bull of pure evil to create a vessel of Darkness, a beautiful boy named Aurox. Yet this strange Dark creature is somehow drawn to be near Zoey - and even to protect her..."