Svagnar is the ferocious warrior jarl of Arkavic.
To stop the constant attacks on his country, he's formed an audacious plan: abduct his enemy's daughter and make her his wife, hoping that tying their countries together through marriage will end the war.
But the last thing he intends is to become dangerously attracted to his stolen bride.
Aster is the captain of the princess's guard. She is low-born, steadfast and fiercely loyal.
But the princess is sent away to be wed, and on the way they are surprised by a group of barbarian warriors. To save the princess from capture, Aster claims to be her and gets taken instead.
The last thing she expects is to become a royal bride in a desperate bid to save a country.
Caught between war and peace, lies and loyalty, duty and lust, the two find themselves dangerously drawn to each other.
But in the chess game of war, the heart is always the first pawn to be sacrificed.