Lirael's dearest friend Samai, the heiress of Aetherdale's prestigious Kaylee Family, shared both her hometown and social standing. The Kaylees stood among Aetherdale's elite, their influence trailing only slightly behind the mighty Veyras.
Generations of alliance bound their families together. Born in the same year, Lirael and Samai had been thick as thieves since toddling age—playmates turned soulmates who'd weathered every childhood storm side by side. To Lirael, Samai wasn't just her best friend; she was the sister fate hadn't given her. The sentiment burned just as fiercely in Samai's heart—no one could ever eclipse Lirael's place in her world.
When news reached Lirael that Samai was wrestling with crippling insomnia—the relentless condition now driving her to madness—her stomach tw
