Freya Blue returns home from a near-disastrous assignment in Tokyo to discover that her goddaughter, Amara, has been abducted by local militia. Amara’s kidnapping triggers old wounds, as well as Freya’s return to the Black Adders—the anti-poaching unit she and her sisters joined as teenagers.

Throughout her search for Amara, Freya recalls painful memories of losing her best friend, Amara’s mother, Gloria. As a young Adder, Gloria takes Freya in and teaches her about the Adders’ love of protecting endangered animals, including the outcast lioness, Nova. The closer Freya gets to finding Amara, the more painful the memories become – of losing Gloria and Nova on her watch that night so long ago. Freya vows that this time will be different.