Fleeing from troubles at home, young Aleyn signs on to the crew of a merchant ship off the coast of Eire, but he has no idea what dangers await him. Viking raiders patrol the shores like hungry wolves, and when Aleyn's ship is attacked, he finds himself the prisoner of Ranulf Eriksen, a Viking jarl who commands the longship Lymskyr. Aleyn expects to be killed or sold, but Ranulf offers him a bargain: his body in exchange for his freedom. Faced with the choice of temporary whoredom or lifelong slavery, Aleyn chooses to give himself to the handsome Northman. What Aleyn could not have foreseen was how much two lonely people in extraordinary circumstances could learn about each other in so short a time. Ranulf, too, is unprepared for the strength of his feelings for Aleyn. As his Viking crew begins to suspect Aleyn of using witchcraft to meddle with their leader's wits, Ranulf must defend his lover from the murderous intent of his men without further risking his own tenuous hold on power.

Fleeing from troubles at home, young Aleyn signs on to the crew of a merchant ship off the coast of Eire, but he has no idea what dangers await him. Viking raiders patrol the shores like hungry wolves, and when Aleyn's ship is attacked, he finds himself the prisoner of Ranulf Eriksen, a Viking jarl who commands the longship Lymskyr. Aleyn expects to be killed or sold, but Ranulf offers him a bargain: his body in exchange for his freedom. Faced with the choice of temporary whoredom or lifelong slavery, Aleyn chooses to give himself to the handsome Northman. What Aleyn could not have foreseen was how much two lonely people in extraordinary circumstances could learn about each other in so short a time. Ranulf, too, is unprepared for the strength of his feelings for Aleyn. As his Viking crew begins to suspect Aleyn of using witchcraft to meddle with their leader's wits, Ranulf must defend his lover from the murderous intent of his men without further risking his own tenuous hold on power.