Clara Graysword has survived through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a life in prison for inking tarot cards—a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy.

When it seems her luck has run dry, the academy's headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape, for a price. He believes that Clara is perfect to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create a card long lost to time.

To hide her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to the academy, introducing her as the newest student and his bride-to-be. Thrust into a world of arcane magic, Clara finds that the prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems.