Diplomat and linguist Everett leads a quiet life on an Earth colony outpost until he's called on to translate for a strange creature discovered on a crashed ship. Despite the magnetic attraction he feels to it, Everett can't communicate well enough to resolve the apparent murder of the ship's pilot. At least not until Isali, the survivor, shows up in Everett's dreams.

Isali is on the run from a supreme being hellbent on destroying him, and Everett soon finds himself caught up in a fight for their lives. The increased intimacy between them triggers memories for Everett, but can he put the pieces together before Isali's nemesis destroys them both?