Lovett Tamerlane is a silkwitch with rare magic bound to marriage, but lacking status or wealth, she survives by secretly stealing from the rich and avoiding a cloistered fate. When she robs the wrong house, she’s caught by Eliot Lear, a powerful Weaver’s son who knows exactly what she is. Eliot offers her a dangerous bargain: compete in the Vainglory — a deadly contest whose prize is marriage into immense power — and secretly investigate the murder of his sister, last year’s winner. If Lovett uncovers the truth, she’ll earn the freedom to choose her future, regardless of the competition’s outcome. But as secrets pile up and trust frays, Lovett learns that love, power, and magic all come at a cost. In a world built on bargains, betrayal may be the deadliest magic of all.