The day of the Trials approaches and Alex Starkweather must make a simple choice. He can accept the Council's offer of status without earning it and become the closest thing the covens have to royalty. Or he can take his Trials, risk tearing the covens apart with his failure and, even worse, hurting people around him when he loses control. Unable to trust his power and unwilling to deal with the events of his past, Alex is put to the biggest test of his life - and all of reality is resting on the outcome.