Vayen's quest to keep the Narvan at peace has left him scarred both inside and out. Struggling to hide his hallucinations, memory loss, and flashbacks from everyone, he's been advising the Narvan on a consultant basis from the distant colony of Pentares, but he longs for the comfort of home. When Anastassia thinks she might again be able to host a link, she's eager for them to return to the Narvan. Stepping back into the advisory position they'd both left behind, now side by side, is a dream come true. Except home doesn't offer the ease Vayen had hoped for. Surrounded by reminders of Merkief and the High Council, his PTSD becomes impossible to ignore. He's falling apart inside. The Narvan is attacked by an enemy Vayen prayed he'd never face again. His nightmares come alive as havoc spreads across the system. Now he must face his darkest terror before everything he loves is ripped away.