Continuing the story from Beyond the Red Mountains, Luther has ensconced Elizabeth in his fortress to teach her the ways of the Enlightened, but she wonders if he has trapped her there. As she discovers his secrets and the dark corners of his world, she becomes increasingly aware of her power, and vows to escape. Meanwhile, Kelvin refuses to believe that Elizabeth is lost to him forever. When he learns where she is — Across the Golden Desert — he is compelled to find her and defeat Luther. Kelvin sets out on a journey that pits him against adversaries otherworldly and human. His determination and love for Elizabeth bring Kelvin to the brink of survival just as she is realizing her destiny. Events collide in ways that neither of them imagined as they are guided by forces not of their choosing.