Now that Alec and his friends have flushed out the spy from within the Royal Academy, they return once again to their studies. Never far from Alec's mind, however, is the motivations of this spy, and whether their cause is justified. The spy did not reveal the truth of Alec's nature, of his natural magic, but why not?

But such questions become less important when Instructor Brutus calls Alec to begin his private tuition. If Alec is to learn how to use his magic most effectively, to learn the lethal methods of Brutus, then he will have to cast aside all else.