Emmeline has grown up with a gift. Since she was a baby, she has been able to control shadows. And her only friend and companion is her own shadow, Dar. Disaster strikes when a noble and his family visits their home and offers to cure Emmeline of magic. Dar promises to change the noble's mind if Emmeline will help her become flesh as she once was. Emmeline agrees, and the next morning, the man is found in a coma. Frightened, Emmeline and Dar flee. With the noble's guards on her trail, Emmeline's only hope of clearing her name is to escape capture and perform the ritual that will set Dar free. But Emmeline's not entirely sure she can trust Dar anymore, and it's hard to keep secrets from someone tethered to your feet.