Expelled from university after an accident stripped her of magic, Ursa Torpalfab returns home gutted. The spectacular career she’d envisioned flying among the stars is over – unless her father, a powerful magician, can help her get her magic back. But when she goes to meet him, he’s missing, and her family can’t – or won’t – tell her where he is.

Disavowed spy Del Fevre is hiding from his former agency, painting illusions to pay the bills. But the charmed art that keeps food on his table is illegal, so when his latest piece is stolen, he scrambles to find it before the illicit painting can be traced back to him, revealing him and his illusion magic to the agents hunting him.

Despite finding each other unbearably rude, Ursa and Del agree to work together when they learn that the missing man and stolen art might be connected. As they get closer to each other and the truth, their inquiries become more dangerous. If they don’t find answers soon, Ursa won’t just have lost her magic for good, but her father too. And with the secrets he knows, Del will not be left alive.