Forbidden Longings, Deadly Streets

Alix, a spy for Avalon Tower, is haunted by her forbidden feelings for fellow agent Rein. In the sun-drenched, Fey-haunted streets of southern France, she waits for Rein at a covert rendezvous, her mind torn between longing and duty. The magical veil separating human and Fey worlds hums with danger, and Alix is one of the rare Sentinels who can control it. When Rein fails to appear, dread mounts. Suddenly, Alix is ambushed by Fey soldiers. Her training fails her in the face of overwhelming emotion, and she is mortally wounded, her last thoughts of Rein. This prologue sets the tone: in Avalon Tower's world, love is forbidden, and distraction is death.

Tourists, Fugitives, and Veil

Nia, a bookish American on a long-awaited vacation in France, is drawn to the mysterious veil and the tension between humans and Fey. Her curiosity leads her to a group of desperate demi-Fey fugitives, hunted by Fey soldiers. Using quick thinking, Nia pretends to be their tour guide, blending them into the crowd. The magical veil, a deadly barrier, is both a threat and a tool—Nia discovers she can sense and, astonishingly, survive within it. Her empathy and improvisation save the fugitives, but she is swept into a world of espionage, magic, and moral peril.

Hiding in the Mist

Nia's group is pursued through the labyrinthine town, with dragons and Fey soldiers closing in. She uses her wits and her strange connection to the veil to hide the fugitives in its mist, discovering her latent magical ability as a Sentinel. The group narrowly escapes, but not without loss—one fugitive is killed, and Nia is forced to confront the brutal reality of the Fey occupation. Her compassion and resourcefulness mark her as more than a bystander; she is now a player in the secret war.

Escape, Reunion, and Resistance

At the docks, Nia reunites the fugitives with the resistance, led by the enigmatic demi-Fey Raphael—her childhood crush and source of old wounds. The resistance is ruthless, prioritizing mission over mercy, but Nia's intervention saves a child and others from abandonment. When a police officer threatens to expose them, Raphael kills him with cold efficiency, forcing Nia onto the resistance ship. Her old life is gone; she is now entangled in the resistance's dangerous world, her own powers and past drawing her deeper.

Sea Serpent and Survival

Aboard the resistance ship, Nia faces suspicion, seasickness, and the trauma of her past. When a sea serpent attacks, she risks her life to save a child, using a magical distress crystal to distract the beast. Raphael and his crew fight with deadly skill, and Nia's courage earns her a place among them. Raphael reveals that Nia is a rare Sentinel, able to disable the veil—a power desperately needed by the resistance. Despite her reluctance, Nia agrees to join, setting her on a path toward Avalon Tower, the legendary spy academy.

Reluctant Sentinel

The battered ship arrives at the hidden city of Camelot, home to Avalon Tower. Nia is thrust into a world of ancient magic, political intrigue, and rigid hierarchies. She meets allies—Tana, Serana, and others—who become her found family, and enemies like the aristocratic Pendragons, who despise outsiders. Nia's powers are tested, and she is forced to confront her own trauma, her mother's neglect, and her growing feelings for Raphael. The academy is both sanctuary and crucible, demanding loyalty, secrecy, and sacrifice.

Arrival at Camelot

Nia's days are filled with grueling training—combat, languages, spycraft, and magical control. She faces bullying from Pendragon scions, the cold hostility of instructor Viviane, and the pressure of being one of only two Sentinels. Her telepathic abilities, a dangerous second power, threaten her sanity and safety. Tana's prophecies warn of darkness and death, and Nia learns she may be the prophesied Lady of the Lake, a figure of immense importance. The academy's history—its roots in Arthurian legend, its centuries-old war with the Fey—becomes her own.

New Alliances, Old Prejudices

Nia forges deep bonds with Tana, Serana, and Darius, finding support and camaraderie. She navigates the treacherous social landscape of Avalon Tower, where class, bloodline, and magical ability determine one's fate. The Pendragons, led by the arrogant Tarquin, scheme to undermine her, while Viviane's brutal training pushes Nia to her limits. Raphael, both mentor and source of unresolved longing, challenges her to master her emotions and powers. The threat of the Fey, the legacy of Mordred, and the prophecy of the Lady of the Lake loom ever larger.

Training, Trauma, and Rivalries

As the Culling—the academy's deadly final exam—approaches, tensions rise. Nia's telepathy grows more volatile, and her enemies exploit every weakness. The trials are brutal: combat, espionage, and magical duels where failure means expulsion or death. Wrythe, the Seneschal, is determined to see Nia fail, while Tana's visions grow darker. Nia's resilience, empathy, and ingenuity help her survive, but not without scars. The lines between friend and foe blur, and the cost of victory becomes painfully clear.

Secrets, Powers, and Prophecies

Nia's relationship with Raphael deepens, but the academy's rules and their own fears keep them apart. She learns the truth about her parentage, her diametric magic, and the prophecy that marks her as the Lady of the Lake. Her powers—Sentinel and telepathy—are both gift and curse, making her a target for enemies within and without. The Dream Stalker, Fey prince and master of nightmares, invades her mind, threatening her sanity and the safety of Camelot. Nia must choose between suppressing her powers or embracing her destiny.

Trials, Betrayals, and Blood

The Culling begins: a series of lethal trials testing every skill. Nia faces sabotage from Wrythe and the Pendragons, betrayal from within, and the ever-present threat of the Dream Stalker. She survives assassination attempts, mind games, and brutal combat, using her powers and wits to outmaneuver her enemies. In a climactic trial, she is forced to use both her Sentinel and telepathic abilities, revealing her diametric magic to all. Despite Wrythe's efforts to expel her, Nia's courage and skill earn her the rare Avalon Steel torc, marking her as a knight and a legend.

The Dream Stalker's Shadow

The Dream Stalker's influence grows, haunting Nia's dreams and threatening to break her mind. Missions become more dangerous as the Fey escalate their war, sending veil mages and assassins to destroy Avalon Tower's Sentinels. Nia's powers evolve, allowing her to manipulate minds and disrupt powerful magic, but at great personal cost. She learns that the Fey are preparing a new invasion, immune to iron, and that she alone may hold the key to stopping them. The line between dream and reality blurs, and Nia must confront her deepest fears.

The Culling: Survival and Sacrifice

Nia and her friends face the last, most brutal tests of the Culling. Allies fall, and the cost of survival is high. Nia's mastery of her powers, her willingness to sacrifice, and her refusal to abandon her friends set her apart. She is forced to kill to save others, crossing a line that changes her forever. The prophecy of the Lady of the Lake comes into focus: she is both weapon and shield, destined to shape the fate of Camelot and the Fey. The academy's old order is shattered, and Nia emerges as a new kind of hero.

Mission: Infiltration and Seduction

Nia, Raphael, and Ginevra are sent on a mission to assassinate a powerful veil mage in Fey France. Disguised as newlyweds, Nia and Raphael must navigate a web of suspicion, magical wards, and political intrigue. Their forbidden love flares, complicating the mission and putting them at risk. The tension between duty and desire, trust and betrayal, reaches a breaking point as they close in on their target. The mission's success is critical: the fate of the veil, and the coming war, hangs in the balance.

The Veil Mage's Trap

The assassination mission turns deadly as Nia and Raphael are caught in a magical trap. Nia's powers are pushed to the limit as she battles the veil mage, delving into his mind and uncovering the Fey's true plan: an invasion of England with an army immune to iron. The cost is high—Nia nearly dies, and Raphael is captured. The veil falls, and the war begins. Nia's vision, courage, and mastery of her powers are all that stand between Camelot and annihilation.

War at Dover

The Fey invasion of England begins at Dover. Nia, now a commander, uses her powers and leadership to rally the defenders, disable magical barriers, and buy time for civilians to escape. The battle is brutal, with dragons, sea serpents, and Fey warriors overwhelming the defenders. Nia's telepathy and Sentinel magic turn the tide, but at great cost. Raphael sacrifices himself to save her, allowing himself to be captured so she can escape. The war is far from over, and Nia is left to pick up the pieces.

Sacrifice and Separation

Reeling from Raphael's capture, Nia returns to Camelot, now a knight of Avalon Steel and the prophesied Lady of the Lake. The war rages on, and the fate of Camelot hangs by a thread. Tana's prophecies offer hope: Raphael can be saved, and Nia's destiny is not yet fulfilled. As she mourns and prepares for what comes next, Nia is summoned by a mysterious force to the legendary island of Avalon, where she meets Mordred, the ancient enemy. The cycle of prophecy, sacrifice, and heroism continues.

Lady of the Lake

On Avalon, Nia confronts her legacy as the Lady of the Lake. Mordred reveals secrets about the past, the prophecy, and her true power. Nia's journey—from lost tourist to reluctant hero, from outcast to knight—culminates in her acceptance of her role as guardian, bridge, and weapon. The war is not over, and Raphael's fate is uncertain, but Nia is no longer alone or powerless. She is the Lady of the Lake, and the future of Camelot—and the world—rests in her hands.

Characters

Nia Melisende

Nia is a bookish, self-deprecating American with a traumatic past and a deep well of empathy. Her journey from tourist to spy is marked by resilience, improvisation, and a refusal to abandon the vulnerable. Psychologically, she is shaped by her mother's neglect and her own longing for belonging and love. Her powers—Sentinel magic and telepathy—make her both invaluable and dangerous, and her struggle to master them mirrors her struggle to accept herself. Nia's relationships—with Raphael, her friends, and her enemies—are fraught with longing, loyalty, and the fear of loss. Her arc is one of transformation: from outsider to leader, from survivor to savior, from pawn to Lady of the Lake.

Raphael Launcelot

Raphael is a demi-Fey resistance leader, marked by trauma, discipline, and a capacity for both violence and tenderness. His past—loss, exile, and the burden of leadership—makes him emotionally guarded, but his connection with Nia reveals vulnerability and longing. As a mentor, he pushes Nia to master her powers, but his own feelings for her threaten both their safety and the mission. Raphael's arc is one of sacrifice: he repeatedly risks himself for others, culminating in his capture to save Nia. His psychological complexity—duty versus desire, control versus emotion—drives much of the novel's tension.

Tana Campbell

Tana is a demi-Fey with the gift (and curse) of prophecy. Her visions of doom and hope shape the narrative, and her quirky, dreamy personality provides both levity and depth. Tana's anxiety and sense of responsibility weigh on her, but her loyalty to Nia and Serana is unwavering. She is the voice of fate, warning of darkness and urging Nia to embrace her destiny as the Lady of the Lake.

Serana O'Rourke

Serana is a demi-Fey with a sharp tongue, a wild spirit, and a deep sense of loyalty. She becomes one of Nia's closest friends, helping her navigate the academy's dangers and prejudices. Serana's own struggles with acceptance and survival mirror Nia's, and her courage and humor are vital to the group's cohesion. She is a fighter, both literally and figuratively, and her presence grounds Nia.

Viviane

Viviane is a formidable combat instructor, known for her brutality and high standards. She is both antagonist and mentor to Nia, pushing her to the brink but ultimately recognizing her worth. Viviane's own history—her loyalty to Avalon Tower, her disdain for weakness—makes her a symbol of the academy's harsh ethos. Her grudging respect for Nia is hard-won and meaningful.

Wrythe Pendragon

Wrythe is the embodiment of Avalon Tower's old order: elitist, prejudiced, and obsessed with power. He is determined to see Nia fail, viewing her as a threat to tradition and his own authority. Psychologically, Wrythe is empty, driven only by self-interest and the need for control. His downfall is precipitated by his inability to adapt or recognize true merit.

Tarquin Pendragon

Tarquin is the scion of the Pendragon family, obsessed with status and tradition. His rivalry with Nia is fueled by insecurity and a desperate need for validation. Underneath his cruelty lies a wounded child, bullied by his own family. Tarquin's arc is one of humiliation and exposure, as Nia's success undermines his worldview.

The Dream Stalker (Prince Talan)

The Dream Stalker is a Fey prince with the power to invade dreams and manipulate minds. He is both a literal and psychological antagonist, haunting Nia's thoughts and threatening her sanity. His motivations are complex: he is both predator and prisoner of his own desires. The Dream Stalker embodies the seductive, destructive power of the Fey, and his connection to Nia is both dangerous and intimate.

Mordred

Mordred, legendary slayer of Arthur, is revealed to be alive and imprisoned on Avalon. He is both threat and potential ally, holding secrets about the prophecy, the House of Morgan, and Nia's destiny. Mordred's psychology is shaped by betrayal, loss, and the burden of prophecy. His relationship to Nia is fraught with ambiguity: he may be her ancestor, her enemy, or her guide.

Ginevra Pendragon

Ginevra is a gold-torc knight, beautiful, cunning, and dismissive of outsiders. She represents the entrenched privilege of the Pendragons and serves as both rival and foil to Nia. Her relationship with Raphael is a source of tension, and her own ambitions put her at odds with the changing world of Avalon Tower.

Plot Devices

The Veil

The veil is both literal and metaphorical: a magical barrier separating human and Fey worlds, and a symbol of the boundaries—emotional, social, and political—that define the characters' lives. Its shifting, deadly nature creates constant tension and serves as the crucible for Nia's powers. The ability to disrupt the veil marks Sentinels as both saviors and targets, and the veil's destruction signals the onset of war.

Diametric Magic

Diametric magic—the possession of two conflicting magical abilities—is both a curse and a source of unprecedented power. For Nia, it is the root of her telepathy and Sentinel abilities, but also the cause of her psychological struggles and social ostracism. Diametric magic is foreshadowed as the mark of Mordred, the destroyer, but Nia's mastery of it redefines its meaning, turning a curse into a weapon for good.

Prophecy and Destiny

Tana's prophecies, the legend of the Lady of the Lake, and the cycle of Arthurian myth provide a framework for the narrative. Prophecy is both burden and guide, shaping characters' choices and the unfolding of events. The tension between fate and free will is central: Nia must choose to embrace or reject her destiny, and her decisions shape the fate of Camelot.

Psychological Warfare

The novel is rife with psychological conflict: telepathy, mind control, and the Dream Stalker's nightmares blur the line between reality and illusion. Characters

Last updated: June 22, 2025