(This story occurs after the Fall of Five) After the loss of Eight, Six, Nine, and John are desperate to regroup after being split up, and Ella is struggling by herself in enemy territory. Before they can find each other again and save Ella, however, Marina starts receiving mysterious messages in her dreams that suggest the impossible. Dare she hope?

Iko and Peony are both thrilled when Peony and Cinder finally are old enough to attend the annual ball. Cinder smiles with them, but deep down, she knows she will never be able to attend, no matter how much she wants to.