No familiar. No power. No second chances.   Samara is chosen to train with the Sacred Flame coterie—an elite magical order where apprentices bond with familiars to become unstoppable sorcerers. For her, this is more than an honor—it's her family's only way out of poverty. But there's a catch. Samara has no familiar. Without one, she's as good as powerless. Her opponents tower over her, her future grows uncertain, and her failure could doom not just herself, but those she loves. Then she meets a grumpy dragon with a sharp tongue. He doesn't want a human companion—but fate might not care. Together, they must uncover long-buried secrets … and survive what comes next.