When a mining accident takes the life of a few criminals in the Plumaris Prison Mines at Leviticus Station, a condemned slave trader must decide to risk his life for others or save his own life. When he discovers his female cellmate is one of the survivors, he begins to look at his past differently and makes an effort to redeem himself.

Stuck in a mining prison on Plumaris, Dram, a former slave-trader and his two cellmates are introduced to their fourth cellmate, Tam. After complaining to her that she didn't belong there, her list of crimes speak for themselves.

Dram, along with all the other prisoners had complained about conditions in the prison in the past, but after Tam's arrival, things begin to change for the better, until the warden shows up and takes it all away, along with Tam. But she manages to escape and Dram tells her the next time, not to come back.

Not only does Tam get Dram thinking about his past, but he also changes his thoughts about the people he sold into slavery when he realizes Tam had once been a sex slave herself. He begins to have feelings for Tam, when a quake shakes up the mines and people are killed.

Dram and two others escape the tulin mines and make it out alive. At the same time, Tam and two of her co-miners escape the gem mines and make it to safety. They all meet up on top of the mountain and a dragon befriends them and takes them across the mountain to safety. They all split up to keep from getting caught and survival is their main focus.

Dram and Tam find the mate to the first dragon and help heal him and he shows them a hidden spaceship. The two work on the ship to get it ready for flight, with Draco's help. Later, Dram and Tam make love and their bond grows. After rescuing Draco from some dragon hunters, they head off and decide to redeem themselves by checking on the fire at the prison. In their attempts at rescuing others, Tam is captured by the warden and is about to be punished when Draco swoops down and eats him. When Kellen comes to pick up the prisoners, he leaves Dram and Tam behind, wishing them a happy life.