Cordelia Nettleford is a disappointment to her family. With no mage gift, she cannot improve their status or even attract a decent suitor. But at least she can run the house for her mother and the estate for her father.

Until the morning a dragon hatches out in the chicken house, the stable girl turns out to be a witch, and a newborn unicorn selects Delia as his maiden.

Jasper Thornton is a disappointment to his uncle. His mage gift is huge but erratic, and years of effort have not led to any control. At least he is useful as his uncle’s errand boy, and his latest errand is a trip to Cheshire to bring back the Queen’s latest unicorn and its maiden.

When Jasper discovers that Delia has the rarest mage gift of all, the errand changes. Napoleon and other enemy war mages will sacrifice much to get their hands on her, but Jasper will do anything to protect her, especially when he comes fully into his power.

In a world at war, they find peace in one another’s arms. And no magic on earth will be allowed to part them.