When one's world changes, new paths must be found.

Niar's mate is assassinated and his leadership usurped by Krantos, a powerful enemy whose machinations doom Niar to transform and avenge her mate's death. Niar has a terror of transformation and even if she survives, the child she carries within her—the rightful heir to the Novari throne—will be destroyed.

Disobedient for the first time in her life, she flees to the mountains. There, while rescuing an enemy tribesman from death, the vial of pheromone she stole to stabilize her pregnancy is broken. Her only chance to save her child is to compel the rescued seed sower to be her close companion, hoping that his pheromone will allow her to carry the child through to birth.

But in the jungles of Javari, dangers abound and it is there that Nair must face her greatest fear, alone.