With one hand, the prince bestows gifts; with the other, he signs the order that binds Oleg to his service. Refusal is impossible, and perhaps unwise, especially when this turn of events may still serve Oleg's own plans.
Now all that remains is to uncover how the imperial family intends to use him. From his new post, Oleg will study the undead, expose their designs, and find a way to thwart them before it is too late. But every discovery comes with danger. Every answer may become a weapon. What can be used against the undead can just as easily be turned against the living. And that task will be far from easy. Not with the prince's son watching Oleg's every move and pursuing ambitions of his own. In a world where self-interest often outweighs the common good, fragile alliances can turn treacherous in an instant, and the schemes of the living may prove more dangerous than even the most terrifying undead.
