Gutter girl Laila is saved by six-winged Duke Alaric, who killed her mother years ago. She plots revenge but he protects her, teaches her, and she discovers her mother chose death and entrusted her to him. They fall for each other. His fiancée arrives, forcing Alaric to whip Laila. She survives, rallies the oppressed, and returns. After a final confrontation, they reconcile and build a new world.