Sarea is a simple country girl. She wants to live a peaceful life, maybe get married to a simple man, and have a houseful of children. She certainly never thinks to catch the eye of their womanizing king. But for the sake of her brother who longs to become one of the Trusted, one of the king's closest confidants and soldiers, she puts herself in the king's path. And while others see King Garrick's sexual attentions as an honor, she does not. She's saving herself for the man who will be her husband. Garrick loves women. And he's used to them loving him in return. But there's something about Sarea's unshakable self-worth that catches his attention and holds it. Before he knows it he is searching every crowd for her and doing everything in his power to keep her close. And all the while his country hovers on the brink of war with an enemy who hates everything that he and his shapechanging people are. Finding one another in such uncertain times and from such different worlds seems an unlikely business...falling in love and trusting one another seems even more unlikely. But together Garrick and Sarea can overcome anything...if only they can get past their fears and learn to trust.