Yelena is facing execution when she is offered an extraordinary reprieve. Be the commander's food taster or die. Yelena has been given the poison Butterfly Dust, ensuring that she cannot escape, because if she does, in two days she will be dead if not given her daily antidote. To make matters worse, Yelena has magical powers that are growing out of control, and they will kill her. Faced with death on all sides, Yelena must not only save herself, but also uncover a traitorous plot against her own captor.