In search of a possibly non-existent future, faced with the dilemma of who to share this future with, Cassia sets off on a journey to the Outlying Provinces to find Kai - Society has sentenced him to certain death. But Cassia discovers that Kai has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake. The search forces Cassia to think about what she values, even though Cassia sees only the flickering light of that other life on the other side of the border. But while Cassia is close to making a decision and the undoubted reality of her future with Kai, a call for the Rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and the surprise appearance of Xander, who still holds the key to Cassia's heart, change the game once again.