For centuries, the Wildlander warriors have kept the forces of the Dark at bay, protecting the gentle nation of Arcadia. But their numbers are decreasing. Between the deadly struggle with the Dark creatures and a lack of female babies born, it’s becoming uncertain if the Wildlander race will continue on past a few more generations.An unmarried, pregnant woman in Arcadia has two choices: die, or go to work at the laundries, where she will spend her life hidden away from the rest of society. Niomi Harpechel’s family has made the decision for her. She’s to be taken out into the cold winter night and quietly disposed of. When she’s rescued by the fierce barbarian Wildlanders, she sees the opportunity not only to survive, but to have a safe home and a future for her child. During their journey through the mountains, passion flares and Niomi’s body awakens to the true pleasures of love. But will it be enough? No Wildlanders have ever taken an Arcadian-born as a bride. They are considered too weak, too frail, to survive the rigors of life beyond the wall. Can Niomi prove them wrong? Does she represent a new hope for the future of the Wildlands?