Sly Spurgeon has spent his life trying to escape a dying planet. He's determined to drag his stubborn father along with him, but when his family's vices threaten to destroy any chance of a better life, Sly must take drastic measures. Fortunately, the very blood in his veins is as good as gold to the right people, but the cost might be too steep to stomach. Kahled Vauqeulin should be in the prime of his life, living large on a thriving world far removed from his people's planet of origin. Instead, he's dying from the only genetic disease known to homo nocturni. His only hope at combatting the disease is to find a donor with pure humanity in their veins. He might as well resign himself to death, given the odds. It's hardly the makings of an epic love story, but if things were different, Sly and Kahled would be perfect for each other.