A vampire marked by a shadow woman possessing his blood.
A thief with a price on her head for attempts to assassinate the sultan of Shoma.
A man who lost his name.
And two lizardfolk. One seeks the knowledge of immortality. The other seeks a life that is their own.
When the ground opens up and sends them underground, the five strangers land inside a cavern overrun by rakken – grotesque, mutated rats worshiping a god whose return would bring about the end of days. As they fight their way to the surface, they’re each branded with dark magic that connects them. Now a sudden urge pulls them to Volendam, a city of many secrets.
But when they arrive, will they find a cure for their branded curse or trigger the awakening of the dragons of Vilanthris?