Here is a summary with spoilers of The Night is Defying
In the prologue, we see a younger Nyte at the end of a brutal battle. He learns that the Star Maiden has been captured and taken to the prison. Intrigued, he goes to see her—and the moment he does, something shifts within him. A deep, protective instinct awakens, and he feels an undeniable urge to help her.
Fast forward to the present, just hours after the events of Book One—Astraea finds herself imprisoned. Determined to get answers, she summons Nyte, but he remains frustratingly vague. Instead, she asks about her other bonded. That’s when Nyte confirms a shocking truth: Astraea has not one, but two bonded mates. One tied to the world she came from, and Nyte—who hails from another world—just so happens to be the second.
Astraea persuades Nyte to release her from their bargain, and he obliges. However, he insists on forming a true bond with her—one that would not only strengthen their connection but also solidify his political standing within his vampire court. Astraea agrees, though they hold off on sealing the bond. Their conversation shifts to Nightsdeath, the darker, more volatile part of Nyte that emerges when he is enraged or possessive—something he still struggles to control.
Once Astraea gains her freedom, she is relieved—until she crosses paths with someone from her past: Auster, her other bonded. Auster is furious with Nyte and warns Astraea not to trust him. Yet despite their bond, Astraea isn’t sure what to make of Auster. He offers to take her back to her home, Althenia, and asks to meet again in a few days. Conflicted, Astraea confides in her friend Rose, while Zath, though loyal to Nyte, assures her that his priority will always be protecting her.
Meanwhile, Nyte deals with the complexities of his court. He consults with his closest allies—Elliot, Zeik, Kerrah, and Sorleen, known as the Golden Guard—about political matters and his brother, Drystan. Their meeting is interrupted by Nadia, who seeks an alliance. In exchange, she offers crucial information: Drystan is aiding the Transcended vampires, and the transformation process creates a blood bond between them and their creator. Nadia, once turned by Drystan, now wants him dead—because if he dies, she will finally be free from his control.
Astraea, on her own path, sneaks into a secret fae resistance meeting. Though opinions about her are divided, the overall sentiment is hopeful.
The next day, while Nyte pursues more information on his brother, Astraea seizes the chance to visit the home of the Celestials, Althenia. She and Rose meet with Auster and his friend, Zadkiel, who guide them. As Astraea explores the city, she finds herself enamored with it, yet deeply conflicted. With her memories still fragmented, she struggles to understand why she once chose to leave this world, why she didn’t stay with Auster.
Later that night, Astraea is jolted awake by a nightmare—or so she believes. But when she finds Nyte at her side, comforting her, she realizes it wasn’t just a dream. It was a memory from her past. Nyte suspects someone is controlling which memories she regains, possibly to keep her from trusting him. Then he reveals something even more bewildering: in her past life, they had already been bonded. Yet all of Astraea’s recovered memories of Nyte are filled with pain and hatred, leaving her even more confused.
The following morning, Nyte goes to confront Drystan. Drystan offers a deal—he will consider working with Nyte to find and kill their father, but only if he is allowed to meet Astraea, and if Nyte promises to show her the memory of the librar. Their conversation is abruptly cut short when Nyte feels a sharp pain through their bond. Without hesitation, he rushes to find Astraea.
Meanwhile, Astraea decides to visit the library. While there, curiosity draws her to Nyte’s old prison cell. As she explores, she stumbles upon a hidden path that leads to an underground crystal lake. A figure emerges from the water, and as Astraea speaks to her, an overwhelming drowsiness sets in—only then does she realize she is facing a nymph. The nymph claims that Nyte owes her a favor. Bloodied and barely conscious, Astraea manages to escape, where Nyte finds her and heals her with his blood. As he tends to her, he offers to share his memories of their first life together. Astraea agrees.
In the flashback, Astraea sneaks into a pub to speak with Nyte. He is displeased that she has entered his territory, so they relocate to hers to continue their conversation. Both are frustrated with one another, yet they agree to work together to investigate the mysterious quakes affecting both kingdoms. However, after Nyte leaves, he realizes something startling—Astraea is his bonded.
As Nyte shares more memories, Astraea’s confusion deepens. She cannot understand why she fell for him then, or why she continues to feel drawn to him now. She also sees glimpses of her past closeness with Auster and even a friendship with Drystan. Then, Nyte reveals a truth that shakes her—her parents were the ones who took her memories, believing it would help restore balance to the kingdom in the future.
Still torn, Astraea decides to return to the Celestial Kingdom with Auster. As he and Rose show her around, he explains that the city is preparing for Maidens’ Day—a celebration of her birthday. Auster urges her to stay, and Astraea struggles to refuse. Rose calls her out, pointing out that she is only hesitating because Nyte still stands on the other side, waiting for her. While in the city, Astraea starts feeling faint. A healer recommends she take a tonic to strengthen her blood, but she hesitates—memories of what past pills suppressed in her haunt her. Though she promises to take the tonic, she ultimately doesn’t, and her weakness worsens.
Upon returning to the castle, Astraea asks Nyte to take her to Drystan. She demands to know what happened between them—why their friendship fell apart. Drystan refuses to answer, insisting that she must either regain the memories herself or have Nyte share them. However, he does give her a clue, telling her to seek out a memory concerning the Celestial Dragon. Before she leaves, Astraea asks him the one question no one else will answer truthfully—was she the reason everything fell apart? Drystan confirms that, in a way, she was. But the blame was not hers alone.
Still lost and searching for clarity, Astraea visits her parents’ temple. There, she hears her mother’s voice. Her parents confirm that they took her memories—but only because she bargained them away for a second chance. Yet, even with that choice, she still ended up choosing Nyte. They refuse to return her memories, as the bargain was absolute, but they do show her selective glimpses—ones that paint Nyte as cruel and Auster as good. Astraea hates the manipulation. Afterward, she confides in Nyte, and they decide to seek answers from the Six Eternal Gods. Nyte suggests they begin with the gods of Day and Dawn, who once aided her in the past.
Another flashback reveals that weeks have passed since Nyte last saw Astraea. When they reunite, he is relieved she is safe. However, Astraea unexpectedly defends Auster, revealing that he is her bonded—though they have never completed a ceremony. This stuns Nyte, who is certain she is bonded to him as well. His frustration eases slightly when Astraea offhandedly mentions that she and Auster have never been intimate. The two strike a bargain.
In the present, Astraea’s condition worsens. She asks Nyte to test the tonic given to her by the healer, and he assures her it is safe. Finally, she takes it.
Astraea and Nyte decide to officially complete their blood bond in a formal ceremony. Everything seems to go perfectly—until Astraea pulls out an item belonging to Nyte, revealing that she has secretly created a second bargain. This time, she holds control over him. She orders him to release Callix from prison and ensure no one follows her—including himself. Taking Rose and Zath with her, she leaves the castle. In her mind, Nyte’s parting words are chilling: Run as fast and as far as you can—because when I catch you, be ready.
Her dramatic departure sends ripples through Nyte’s court. The vampires had eagerly anticipated the bond, and her actions cause unexpected complications for Nyte’s political standing.
As Astraea and her group travel, she sets her sights on the Keep, where she grew up. Along the way, they encounter Nadia. Having witnessed Astraea’s escape, Nadia brings urgent news—Drystan is still amassing power. She remains determined to see him dead and reveals that he is likely building an army of Transcended vampires. To prove just how dangerous his abilities are, she compels an innocent bystander, showcasing the terrifying power of blood control.
Eventually, the group reaches the Keep, staying the night in Cassia’s old home. While exploring, Astraea makes a disturbing discovery—Cassia’s father possesses a Celestial’s wings, carefully preserved in his office. If he had such a secret, what else was hidden in her childhood home?
Another flashback unfolds—years pass as Astraea and Nyte continue their search for answers, yet Nyte never tells her they are bonded. During this time, Astraea grows closer to Drystan, much to Nyte’s frustration. While conducting research in a library, the group stumbles upon something incredible—a Celestial Dragon egg. A dragon guards it, forcing them to kill it to protect the egg. Astraea vows to find a worthy guardian for it. This, Nyte realizes, is the very memory Drystan has been waiting for Astraea to uncover.
In the present, Astraea pieces together the truth—Drystan likely knows how to hatch the egg. That night, as she contemplates her next move, Nyte appears to her in his non-corporeal form. She had not thought to command him not to enter her mind, giving him an unexpected opening.
Before she can react, Callix arrives, summoning her to dinner with Cassia’s father. Something feels off. Sensing danger, Astraea tries to escape, but Callix grabs her—betraying her trust. She regrets ever saving his life.
Cassia’s father reveals his plan—Astraea will remain here so her blood can be used as a bargaining tool. She is poisoned and locked away, her strength drained over days as they siphon her blood. During her eventual escape, she learns a horrifying truth—Cassia’s father had been exploiting her blood even before Cassia died. In the ensuing chaos, he meets his own end. Also instrumental in the escape, was Callix, who even though he originally betrayed her, ends up helping Astraea; and during his help dies protecting her. He also helped Rose and Zath escape their deaths as well.
The commotion was caused by the king himself—but he manages to slip away. Also, just as Astraea collapses from exhaustion and blood loss, Nyte is there to save her.
When she wakes, panic sets in—Nyte isn’t breathing. He had risked his life to reach her, and though he cannot die permanently, his body is suffering from the repeated strain. Realizing she is slowly killing him, she releases him from their bargain so he can heal properly.
As he recovers, Astraea and Drystan finally have the conversation she has been waiting for. They speak about their past and, more importantly, the Celestial Dragon egg. Drystan, it seems, holds the key to hatching it. We next get a chapter from Nyte, he sees Astraea, and she has the hatched dragon.
In a flashback, Nyte and Astraea continue their search for the cause of the quakes. As they investigate, Nyte reveals two secrets about himself—first, that he can only be killed by the weapon that created him, which, in this case, is the dagger Astraea possesses. Second, he confesses that he is not originally from her realm. As they piece together their findings, a disturbing realization dawns on them—the quakes began around the same time Nyte arrived, meaning he may be the cause.
Amid the weight of this revelation, tension rises between them. Nyte makes a move, and they share their first kiss. But before things go further, Astraea pulls away. She insists that if they allow themselves to develop feelings, it will only complicate an already precarious situation.
Back in the present, Astraea decides to return to the temple where she was raised. She meets people who feel familiar, yet their names and shared history remain locked away in her missing memories. Even so, she promises to find her memories and return to them. They, in turn, express their pride in the woman she has become.
While Astraea is visiting, the rest of her party is ambushed by Auster and his forces. It is the first time Auster and Nyte have come face to face since Astraea’s fall. Auster wastes no time in taunting Nyte, revealing that Astraea has been visiting him and her old city, Althenia. But that is not his only revelation—he declares that over the past 300 years, they have been developing a weapon designed specifically to harm the fae. Without hesitation, they put it to the test, launching several arrows at Nyte. The enchanted weapons strike true, bringing him to his knees.
Wounded and weakened, Nyte calls out for Astraea. The moment she hears him, she rushes to his side, desperate to save him. The only way to do so is by giving him her blood. As he drinks, his strength returns, and he comes back to life before Auster’s eyes.
Auster watches, expression unreadable, before saying that Astraea must return with him—before she makes the same mistakes all over again. But Astraea refuses. Not yet. In that moment, she makes a choice. She chooses Nyte.
Days pass, and the Winter Solstice approaches—a day that is not only sacred to her people but also marks her own day, Maiden’s Day. She decides to travel to Althenia for the celebration.
Upon her arrival, she and Auster clash once again. He demands that she choose a side now—if she will not bond with him, she must bond with Nyte so he can finally move on.
On Maiden’s Day, Astraea explores Althenia and meets her people. She feels an undeniable love for them, their warmth drawing her in like the home she never quite remembered. Though she and Auster have mended their earlier fight, she remains hesitant. She loves her people, but choosing Auster? That is something she is not yet ready to do.
In another past memory, Nyte recalls a moment in his castle when Astraea suddenly appears, gravely wounded. With no other option, Nyte bonds with her to save her life. It works, and when Astraea awakens, she’s shocked to discover they are mates. Over the next year, the two share secret meetings to be together, growing closer despite the dangerous circumstances. But as the chapter ends, Nyte reluctantly decides he must leave, though he’s hesitant to say goodbye.
Back in the present, Nyte and Astraea spend another intimate night together before the Star Maiden Day celebrations. Astraea confesses her love for Nyte but reveals that they cannot bond yet—if they do, it will make it easier for the king to kill Nyte, so they must wait.
On the night of Star Maiden Day, Nyte decides to spend time with his friends, trying to enjoy a cheerful night. But everything takes a deadly turn when night crawlers attack, killing many, including some of his friends. Consumed by rage, Nyte fully embraces Nightsdeath. He seeks out Astraea, who had been at a ball and recently fought with Auster about their relationship. Nyte tells her that he has made a deal with her parents—bring Astraea back, and his life will belong to them, as he has been slowly dying; and doesn’t have much time left. Nightsdeath then reveals his intention to kill Auster, releasing his full power in a brutal attack. Amid the chaos, Auster appears, choosing his side against Astraea. A fierce fight ensues, but Astraea, desperate to stop them, decides she must confront the king and kill him herself.
Meanwhile, the rebellion arrives, intent on killing the king and the vampires, willing to do whatever it takes. Dryston also appears, offering to help Astraea, but they will need Nyte. The three of them begin discussing their next move, including a reconciliation between the brothers. However, the attack intensifies, and Dryston is struck, gravely wounded. Nyte calls upon Death to bargain for his life, but Death reveals that he has already intervened for Astraea, turning Nyte into Nightsdeath. In a final act of desperation, Astraea offers her own life in exchange, and Death transforms her, restoring her memories and creating a new servant: Lightsdeath.
As Astraea’s memories flood back, she realizes that the last time she died, it was at Auster’s hands, driven by jealousy that Nyte was chosen over him. Confronting Auster, he admits it was him who killed her, still harboring resentment. Nyte, now present, hears the truth and challenges Auster, igniting a fight between them. The confrontation is interrupted when the King arrives, revealing that he and Auster have been allies all along. Auster then reveals his plan: to force Nyte and Astraea to bond so that they can kill Nyte. He drives a knife into Astraea, and with no choice but to save her, Nyte completes the bond.
Once the bond is sealed and Astraea revived, the King reveals all their captured friends, including Rose and Zath. Auster, eyeing Zath, declares him part celestial and sentences him to die first. He strikes, leaving Zath hanging by a thread. Then, his next attack is aimed at Nyte and Astraea. He threatens to whip Astraea if Nyte doesn’t show his wings, forcing him to reveal them, only for them to be brutally torn from his back. Auster tries to take Astraea’s key, the weapon she won in the first book, but Astraea channels her newfound power and splits the key, hiding its pieces across the continent.
In the chaos, Nyte is taken by Dryston, while Astraea is captured by Zephyr, one of Auster’s brothers and his right-hand man, bonded to Katarina. Nyte wakes up, upset that Dryston chose him over Astraea, but he’s relieved to learn that Zath, Rose, Lilith, and Nadia survived the attack. Nyte and Dryston begin planning, realizing the conflict will now be a race to find the keys. Nyte is determined to find Astraea so they can finish this fight together. Dryston reveals, however, that his actions were all part of a plan for him to die, allowing Nyte to call upon Death and give Astraea the power she needed. Nyte is furious that he wasn’t involved in the plan.
Meanwhile, Astraea wakes in Zephyr’s presence, remembering him from her past and realizing they were once true friends. She awakens with vengeance, heading straight for Aquilo, the man who betrayed them in the past. Aquilo is held captive, as his death would spark war and incur the wrath of the gods. Astraea takes his wings as a symbol of power and sends him back to Auster and King Notus as a message.
Realizing that dawn is approaching and fearing the curse on Nyte will kill him with the rising sun, Astraea frantically searches for him. While running through the city, she encounters wanted posters for herself, Nyte, and their friends. The outrageous bounty confirms that the city will soon be hunting them, whether they believe in her or not. She reaches Nyte, but by then, he’s already succumbing to the curse. As he dies in her arms, Astraea promises to find him again in the darkness.
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