Prologue

Beathan's hand on her shoulder was the only warm thing she felt. The sodden clothes and cloak clung to her body seeming to add layers of cold to her already frozen limbs. Freya shivered so hard her teeth chattered.

The clouds parted allowing glimpses of the moon and star filled sky. It was as if the brightness of the heavenly planets made a mockery of what occurred that night.

They'd managed to escape on horseback heading to their uncle's home. It was pure luck that they'd heard the voices of the men looking for them.

With little to no vegetation in the area, the only cover coming from rocks or low-lying bushes, they'd had to abandon the horses. Beathan had slapped their rumps, sending the startled animals in the direction they'd been traveling, the direction that made the most sense.

Now after what seemed hours of heading toward the shoreline, they lowered to the ground, waiting to ensure no one saw them.

"We will go by sea," Beathan assured her. "It will take just a bit longer to go around to the other side of the Isle and reach Uncle Williams' lands."

Everything had gone completely and utterly wrong.

The storm they'd encountered had changed each of their lives forever.

One for good.

The other, with deadly consequences.