Fire. Water. Burn. In the two months since the All Hallows' Eve party, Tally has courted Haru, buying expensive gifts, taking the two of them to upscale restaurants and trying to find a balance in earning Haru's fragile trust while being new parents to the Cohen joeys. Tally sees hope in the new domesticity the family has settled into, despite having some bumps along the way. Gifts and treats have satisfied Haru's otter, but the human half remembers the brutal lessons of giving their trust away. How can two lijun who barely know each other anticipate what will happen when times get tough? There are circumstances Tally doesn't understand yet, and Haru struggles to find their feet with an Urusar who doesn't know the rules. A revelation not only throws the tentative relationship between them askew, but also starts Tally and Haru down a path the two of them can't escape, one so heart-wrenching Haru's not sure their heart will survive. Traditionalist concerns that have always nipped at the Bastille clan's heels come roaring to the forefront with demands and ultimatums. Tally needs to fall in line or face further threats to his otter, his family and his clan. Haru needs to find the strength to believe in the good despite the bad. In an environment where it's vital to know ally from foe, Tally and Haru need to stand united or watch the community Tally's family has built fall under the thumb of heartless, greedy autocrats.