Welcome to Oculus Dei, the most prestigious school in the empire. Here you'll learn how to use magic...and how to seize it. 

Born in the Gutters, Epona was raised to serve, not to wield power. That changes when she miraculously heals a flightless pegasus whose wings have been clipped. The act reveals magical talents that shock the empire and give her the chance to attend Oculus Dei where she can become one of the elites instead of bowing to them. The catch? She must finish first in her class or have her magic violently stripped away forever.

The only person who stands in her way is Lord Iolo, the empire’s golden boy. Not only does he dominate the class rankings, he’s everything Epona was raised to despise. Yet beneath his aloof exterior, he’s thoughtful and generous. But romance between Epona and the Imperials is forbidden, and his overtures are a distraction she can’t afford . . . one that makes her vulnerable.

Failure isn't an option for Epona, but when she discovers the horrifying source of the Imperials' magic, she must decide what she's truly fighting for: a permanent place in this gilded society? Or the chance to burn it all down . . .