Stisele of Imlen knows she's in trouble, but not how much. The young adopted daughter of Beltresa's sovereign longs to be a weapon in her mother's service -- even against her birth family, should Utroneth ask it. If only Stisele could master the temper that drives her to pepper the royal heir with petty kin-curses.

But Stisele's dreams are bigger than the balance of intrigues that keeps her alive and captive in this perilous royal court. She can be more than a speaker of kin-curses. She deserves a life beyond the palace islet she's never left. Her two imaginary friends, if...