Before there was Marcus, there was Kiran. Darci awakens in a new world created by her own hands and power. As she takes on a new identity, she becomes enthralled by the strange, rugged man named Kiran, who found her alone on a hill. She wants a fresh start, but the darkness wants her more. Kiran offers her a place to stay, and the more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow toward one another. Together, they grow from strangers to friends to more in this no-spice prequel novella set in the world of House of Death and Shadow.