Elizabeth Sturm learned from her own experience what greed, what destructive power and what horror lie in wait in the world of the Mares - and yet she retained her love for Colin. Exhausted and wounded to the core, she fears and longs for the day when he returns and they go hunting for Tessa, the ancient Mar who threatens their happiness. In Italy, they hope to track down Tessa and find clues as to where Eli's father might have gone. Almost against his will, in the heat, sea and sparse vegetation of the country, Eli finds the peace he has been craving for several months. And with gratitude she gives herself to this new, free life. When an ally suddenly appears, the answers to Eli's questions seem to become real. But the deeper she dives into the secrets of the Mares, the greater Eli's doubts become: Maybe even her love is not strong enough to withstand Colin's hunger?