Kinara Katari and her fiancé Alator both serve in the Guardian Forces of Alympia, each with different talents and levels of experience. When the unrelenting enemy Javelar attacks, they join their comrades in battle, but the results are devastating to both civilians and fighters. Suddenly, Kinara is no longer a bride planning her wedding but a warrior fighting for her place in the ranks. At the same time, in a small rural town on the planet's poorest continent, the Khiings family is beginning to plan a celebration for their oldest son's return from college. Then Kinara, an old family friend, shows up on their doorstep and an unwise choice first puts her life in jeopardy, and not long after makes her the custodian of Zaelek, the second Khiings son, who is just beginning to find the source of hisown power. As Zaelek struggles to discover just who and what he is, events no longer allow for a leisurely exploration of his progress but accelerate the process in ways he never could have imagined as he is swept along by forces beyond his control. Everyone has secrets here, and as life devolves into chaos, some are exposed while some remain hidden and everyone must do what they can to survive.