The crimes of the past—the perils of the future.

Five hundred years ago the Earth's most prosperous people went to live in glittering colonies in space, promising to return one day. Killian Morningcloud has always dreamed of that return, wishing he could leave behind his dreary village life to join the elite among the stars. Colonial aristocrat and video celebrity Natira Celestia is fascinated with Earth and longs to meet the wise and noble souls she is sure must live there.

But when a contingent of colonists lands in Killian's community, his fateful encounter with Natira shatters the dreams of both, and triggers a chain of events that could cost their lives.

In pursuit of a dangerous secret, Killian and Natira's fire-and-water pairing will shape the future of humanity.