The shadows have taken over the lands of Meridiah. Apollo lives with his brother in a farming village surrounded by shadows. When the unimaginable happens, he alone makes a decision that will effect both his and his brother's lives forever. For the last two years, Ratsbayne has been haunted by visions of death, blood, and a mysterious woman calling to him. Unable to wrestle with them, he seeks to escape. When he has an encounter with nightmarish creatures, his path diverts to one he never thought possible. One's standing is everything in ro'Shadon society, so when Mykel is unexpectedly given the command of a garrison by his father, he finds all eyes upon him. After a misunderstanding with Apollo changes how everyone views him, Mykel must navigate a way which no Shadon has taken before, risking both his place in his society and at his father's side. When the shadows have covered everything, is there hope for those lost within?