Her heart still aching after spying a rival princess in the midst of seducing the king, Sariphi gains an unlikely ally in the court. Meanwhile, Chancellor Anubis and the Council, intent on keeping human blood out of both the royal bloodline and the king's affections, concoct a bizarre test: unless Sariphi can summon a Holy Beast, she'll never be allowed to become His Majesty's Queen Consort...