Book excerpt: Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, can no longer deny her power as a necromancer. Not after having used that power to perform a lifesaving ritual for the tsar. And though Katerina has discovered that many in her aristocratic circle possess supernatural abilities, she sees her special gift as more of a curse, one that can only harm those she loves-including the tsar's son, George Alexandrovich. So she is determined to leave Russia to protect those dearest to her. But Katerina's plans are put on hold when Konstantin the Deathless again returns from the beyond to stir up the dark forces within the ranks of the aristocracy. Katerina must remain at finishing school. She'll be safe there; the tsar's wife has cast a potent spell to keep out all evil, protecting Katerina from the sinister Prince Danilo, who still wants to get her in his clutches. But to Katerina's horror, the empress's spell awakens a vengeful ghost within the school-a threat more dangerous than anything trying to get in.