When Aurora visits her mother's Arch Fortress, she never expects to meet the mysterious Fenric, a fae man with a dangerous reputation. Their encounter takes a surprising turn when they share an unexpected kiss atop the castle walls, only for Fenric to coldly send her away, leaving Aurora confused and heartbroken. Fleeing through the tree archway, she escapes into the future to stay with her grandmother, licking her wounds and trying to make sense of the emotions she's left with.After a few days of reflection, Aurora decides to return, stepping through the stone archway beneath her grandmother's keep. But lurking in the shadows is a villain who has been imprisoned below the keep for a year. Dax, a dangerous figure, has plans of his own.Fenric has long been a protector of mortal women, his mission for the past three and a half centuries having been to free the mortal concubines his uncle enslaves in his harem. Now that his uncle is imprisoned and his cousin, Beitris, is on the throne, his old mission is obsolete. He's never touched a mortal lass romantically, but now he finds himself helplessly drawn to one, and soon comes to realize that she is his fated mate. Fate must have a twisted sense of humor.Together, they learn to love and trust each other, overcoming trials that seem beyond bearing, but in the end, what they find is a love more powerful than any villain could hope to be.