One man is a king, the other a warrior. Commander Rufe Ferund, branded a traitor with a tattoo for all to see, must fight his way up the military ladder and restore his reputation. Does this include feeling worthy of the love of a king—even an enemy king? King Niam knows the Cormiran Empire has long wanted to take the kingdom of Delletina as its own, but he’ll only make a deal with a new emperor since the former ruler conspired to take the country by force. Cormirans are vile, or so Niam has been told. Then a handsome Cormiran soldier stumbles onto his lands, offering a chance to size up the enemy for himself—and he realizes Rufe might not be the contemptible barbarian Niam formerly believed Cormirans to be. But could there be more between them? Could the fire they feel in their souls lead to something else beyond a mere dalliance? Traitors, court intrigue, and unseen dangers force the two closer together, while an old enemy hides in the shadows, ready to threaten Niam’s reign, and even their lives.