Years ago, the corrupt immortal, Ta'Nathel, slayed Silvirdia's Empyreal Guardian and claimed the world for himself. Now, a calamitous curse creeps over the entire world, leaving the Wardens as Silvirdia's only hope against the world's imminent self-destruction.

Eighteen-year-old Norielle lives in a town convinced that they are immune to Ta'Nathel's curse, but when she witnesses her town lake come alive and drown her father, Norielle realizes that nowhere is safe. Determined to prove her witness to a disbelieving town, Norielle braves the sentient lake again, and it drags her to the bottom. Calden, the Sovereign Prince of the Wardens, rescues her.

As next in line in the now underground society, Calden is responsible for stopping the world's impending doom. After saving Norielle, he informs her that the Creator has chosen her to join the Wardens and help him on his seemingly impossible quest. He leads her toward the Warden's hidden citadel to discover her specific purpose beside him and the other members of his Bind. But despite the danger from pursuing Hunters, Warden defectors, and cursed beasts, Calden knows that the greatest threat to Norielle on their journey is the one thing he can't protect her from--his curse.