Saeris has survived the brutal city of Zilvaren by relying on nerve, quick instincts, and the ability to steal what she needs. When an encounter with forbidden quicksilver tears open a path into the Fae world, she is pulled into a realm shaped by war, ancient magic, and secrets surrounding the alchemists. There she becomes entangled with Kingfisher, a dangerous Fae warrior whose loyalties and motives are anything but simple. As Saeris learns to work with alchemy, gates, and the powers awakening around her, their uneasy alliance grows into something far more dangerous. This controlled abridgement preserves all 45 chapters, the core alchemy and war plot, principal relationships, romantic arc, major conflicts, and ending.
