Alex Verus's insights into the future used to be the best-kept secret in London. Now with the aid of his apprentice Luna, his unique investigative talents are all the rage. He just has to be careful about picking his employers, because everyone - even the beautiful woman who practically begs him to run security for a prestigious tournament - has motives that can be hard to predict. And Alex doesn't do unpredictable.

But his latest job might just be impossible. Apprentices have been vanishing without a trace - and someone on the council of mages might be involved. Alex has no evidence, no witnesses, and no suspects. All he knows is that someone is keeping tabs on him. And after assassins target Luna's classmate, Alex sees that he doesn't know the half of it - and that he could be the next to disappear.