Thief. Murderess. Sacrificial messenger. Netriet has faced death many times, but she never consented to the transformation she endured the last time her life was pulled back from the edge of death. She's compelled to live a solitary life for fear the shadow inside her will terrify others. Lonely, Netriet longs for acceptance and friendship. Joining up with the Fair, a haven for misfits, she believes she's found home and love with Merick. The ghosts of Merick's past haunt him. Helplessly attracted to Netriet, he's sworn to help her destroy the shadow within, but losing his heart to her cripples him with fear. Mistakes and misunderstanding push her away, and Merick's forced to watch her flee into the arms of another man.

Torn between two men, Netriet's true nature is drawn to one, while the shadow yearns for the other. At war with the darkness, Netriet must choose, or let the shadow swallow her completely. The fate of Regia's new republic hangs in the balance as a new enemy arises, backed by a group of violent insurgents bent on destroying everything Forest has worked for. Desperate for intelligence about the terrorist group, Forest learns the leader wants not only to claim the throne, but also her life.