Every rose has its thorn – even one so fair and bright as Karen Shanaire, a star ballerina in the Empire of Gloretta. Karen, who is secretly a spy for the enemy state of Qustia, must extract valuable intelligence from her latest target, Glorettan war hero and key arms manufacturer Duke Arcturus Kloen. Arcturus begins a relationship of convenience with Karen to ward off scandal, unaware that her intentions are anything but benign. Thus begins the deadliest dance of all: a ballet of love, death, and war.