The only man she loves is the one she can never have Lady Tara's dreams of marrying for love were shattered with her arranged marriage to the sickly Lord Gershom. Fine. She may not have love, but she has purpose a position of power that lets her make a difference in the kingdom. At least her Carmack, her fiercely loyal shield, remains by her side, even if she must deny her heart. Then Lord Gershom dies. And to her horror, Carmack is blamed. Branded a traitor, he flees, forcing Tara to choose between protecting the life she s built or following the man she loves. Loving her might cost him everything Carmack Demry has secretly loved Lady Tara all his life, sworn to protect her at any cost even if it meant watching her wed another man. But now, accused of a crime he didn t commit, he's on the run because staying away is the only way to keep her safe. Except Tara has other plans. Determined to clear his name, she plunges into a web of treachery and deceit that reaches far beyond them both one that threatens the very heart of the kingdom. Together, they must navigate a world of danger, unravel a conspiracy, and face a choice more perilous than any battlefield: deny their love or risk everything to claim it.