Harper Kane, dismissed as a "useless" mage, formed pacts with Chase and Wade, only to discover their secret collusion with Bree. Heartbroken, she ventured into the Forest of Exotic Beasts and forged an alliance with Zane, a sealed Silver Dragon. Though Zane was indolent and sharp-tongued, he steadfastly protected her and purified her magic, allowing them to share magical power.
While Zane was in a vulnerable molting phase—his strength severely diminished—Harper traveled alone to the Rift Valley in search of a medicinal elixir, where she encountered Valerius, the Master of the Rift, whose powers had spiraled out of control. Despite his weakness, Zane rushed to her aid. Together, they plunged into a hallucinatory realm of memories, resolving the obsession that had consumed Valerius for a millennium. Having survived this life-or-death ordeal, Harper was formally named her family's heir.
