He could never accept his fate, but it will take both of them to change it. Iayan Yy-ren was born into servitude and has struggled his whole life to accept his fate. He spends his days tending to the needs of his wealthy "betters" and suppressing his own desires, but he chafes against a society that demands he knows his place. His monotonous routine is interrupted by the arrival of a new servant, Dax: once an elite but now fallen from grace. Arrogant and contemptuous, Dax instantly gets under Iayan's skin. The more Dax looks down on him, the greater the friction between them. At the same time, responsibility-and pity-keep drawing Iayan back to Dax despite himself. When Iayan is given the chance to join an investigation into an extremist cult, he leaps at the opportunity, eager to prove his worth and find meaning in life. The cultists are dangerous, but their charismatic leader prophesizes change and seems to understand Iayan in a way no one else does. Slowly, Iayan and Dax bond over their shared situation, but Iayan finds himself falling deeper into the cult's sway. As predictions begin to be realized and strange beings from beyond the stars make their presence known, Iayan must decide who he is, and who he's meant to be.