This story takes place on the assumption that Kate and Emily never moved to Hallow Hill. In fact, they won't come into this story very much, or at all.

Kate Winslow and her sister Emily moved in with their father's nephew who treated them well. Emily died in her teens with scarlet fever and Kate consented to marry a slightly older man called Martin Darling, a widow and school fellow of her guardian. He had a ten-year-old son called Edward from his first wife.

Kate loved the boy and his father. She gave birth to a daughter three years after her marriage and lived just long enough to name the child Grace. Martin was distraught at the loss of his young wife but reveled in the love for his children. He raised them to the best of his ability and loved them deeply. Edward grew into a handsome young man and loving brother.

Grace could be as refined and lady-like as her mother but she was just a little wild when no one was looking. Her beauty grew every day and many young men, and a few not so young, sought her hand. Martin told his beloved daughter that the choice would always be hers to make.

When she was little she believed in magic and the kinds of people who wield it. When she grew up she didn't stop believing. She could feel something welling up inside her. If only she could find the key to unlocking it.

The Hallow Hill Lodge is being taken by a brother and his young sister, now that Celia and Prim have passed away.

The brother, Edward Darling, is a scholar and an acquaintance of Hugh Roberts, cousin to his sister on her mother's side. Edward recently became the legal guardian of his seventeen-year-old, unmarried sister at the passing of their father.

Grace Darling is beautiful and high spirited. The siblings have always been very close and Edward taught her the love of books early on. Grace is a typically smiling, laughing girl, always looking for a diversion and as happy to laugh at her own clumsiness as at the next joke. She is fearless. But, as mature as she behaves in public and as carefree as she seems, Grace has a secret.

Grace believes in magic. Sometimes she feels as if she could work a little magic if she just wanted it badly enough or said the right words in just the right order.

When her brother drags her off into the middle of nowhere to hide his nose in a book, the locals tell Goblin stories and warn her to stay out of the woods at night. She could feel the magic in this strange place and she could barely contain her excitement at possibly discovering true magic. Her own innate ability seemed like a dam ready to burst. She was full but the trigger had to be tripped.

Marak is always looking for ways to strengthen his kingdom and his kingdom needs an heir which means he needs a queen. Miss Darling is beautiful and unmarried. She would do.

Marak doesn't know what he's getting into.