Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling’s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

Shadows in the Twilight, aka Shadow, was removed from her father's life of being constantly under public eyes since an egg by her mother, a Solstice who gave up her life bringing joy at Christmas to live with Prince. Shadow's mother, having had her first child taken away from her, hid her egg in a faraway cave shrouded by fog so that no one could touch her precious child. Eventually, Shadow hatched and grew into a fine lady dragon, but was still kept away from her father's home, not even knowing who he was to her. Knowing the pain of her mate having more than one partner, her mother only allowed one dragon to court her, a Radiant Angel, who was never accused of infidelity, though there were rumors that Shadow had affairs with a blue dragon once. Shadow fills her days reading, helping to hunt for food and trading off some of her silver scales  to give her mother presents. Like every young female dragon, she wonders often what it would be like to live in a castle and be a princess.