Newly Revised & Polished Edition. Some bonds cannot be broken. Some secrets were never meant to be kept. When blacksmith's daughter Thea Ironwood is selected to attend the prestigious Crown's Talon Academy, she's thrust into a world where bloodlines determine destiny and dragon riders rule. No one expects her to succeed – least of all Imperial instructor Riven Skyblade, whose cold disdain makes it clear commoners don't belong among the elite. Everything changes at the Claiming Ceremony when Skyriss – a rare silver-blue dragon who has rejected countless noble candidates – chooses Thea. Their instantaneous bond draws the watchful eye of Lady Ravenna, the academy's enigmatic leader whose interest in Thea goes far beyond mere curiosity. As Thea navigates a dangerous world of ancient magic and hidden agendas, she begins to suspect her presence at the academy is no accident. And the truth behind her unexpected bond might be more dangerous than anyone could imagine.