Beyond the glowing forests of Sanctuary, the world has been ravaged by a corruption known only as the Darkness, leaving none alive but those blessed by the goddess, Riel. Among those survivors, only the Bonded have the fortitude to push back against the corruption and reclaim the world for their kind. In the last bastion left to humanity, Kirheen is put through a ritual to help strengthen her power, one that all Bonded share - a mental magic allowing them to shape and control the world around them. Matching with a young man named Garild, both are sworn to dedicate their lives and minds to each other, to bolster their powers so they can join the fight against the Darkness. That dedication comes with a cost, however, and as Kirheen begins to learn her role in Sanctuary, she yearns for the freedom to make her own choices, to experience a life that is more than fighting for a cause she doesn't believe in. As she struggles to come to terms with the invasive nature of their power, she begins to wonder if life in Sanctuary is all she will ever know, or if there is more out in the world than the death and devastation left behind by the Darkness. But Sanctuary does not reward the curious, and to learn the truth, Kirheen will have to pay the ultimate price.