When your father is the ruler of the entire planet there aren't many places you can go without being recognized but Kara Davignon's career as a researcher in the Boundary Forest keeps her out of the spotlight and away from high society much to her family's disappointment. While studying a grove of ancient trees deep in the forest, Kara finds metal shards that are remnants of the Stargazer, a starship that mysteriously disappeared with its passengers and crew over three hundred years ago during the early colonization of this sector of the galaxy. Before Kara can reveal her discovery her sister, determined to find her the perfect mate, arranges a romantic train trip to the capital with Kenton Siddor, son of the Duke of Haldise but it is the irritable Colonel Larsen assigned to protect them that has Kara's imagination working overtime and curious as to what secrets the man is hiding. Their journey takes a deadly detour when assassins target their train forcing them to flee for their lives into the Boundary Forest making Kara wonder if she will live long enough to release her findings and if the Colonel's tactical skills and her knowledge of the forest will be enough to get them home safely.