The immortal ælven were forever divided when one clan began a forbidden practice: the drinking of blood.

Clan Darkshore was cast out of the ælven, named "alben," and driven west of the mountains into exile, their protests—that they must drink blood or perish—ignored. Centuries later, Darkshore's leader, Shalár, burns with anger at the memory of the war against her clan, and weaves a plan to reclaim her former home and make the ælven accept the truth about her people.

East of the mountains, a young ælven, Eliani, takes up the sword after her lover betrays her. She has no use for the elegant, much-admired Turisan, heir to the governor of a neighboring realm, but when they find evidence that the alben may again be hunting in ælven realms, they become uneasy allies.

With the threat of the alben's return driving the ælven to prepare for war, Eliani and Turisan discover that they share mindspeech. This rare gift could be the salvation of their people—if Turisan can persuade Eliani to permit the intimacy of his mental touch.