Kit Morgan has always known there's more to the world than she sees -- it's hard not to, when her emotions cause objects to shift and glass to shatter. Then she encounters water-witch Chailyn, who reveals to her the existence of fairies, old and treacherous. Chailyn knows as little of surface life as Kit does of the supernatural -- but both have to learn quickly, for Kit's powers are surfacing.

Joined by Hadrian, whose hypersensitive perceptions have left him jaded, they rouse a hornet's nest. They must also evade the Borderwatch -- a supernatural agency that believes fairies are too dangerous to live and takes issue with Kit's rogue abilities. Unable to take shelter with the water-witches, but with some unexpected allies, the three are forced to make a stand.