Publisher's Synopsis
The windswept shores of the Scottish Highlands beckoned to Lara MacKenzie as she strolled along the craggy cliffs, her fiery red tresses dancing in the salty sea breeze. Unbeknownst to the headstrong lass, her idyllic life was about to be shattered by the arrival of a marauding band of Viking raiders led by the fearsome Norseman, Thorstein Ingvarsson.
As the longboats landed on the beach, Thorstein and his bloodthirsty warriors descended upon Lara's village, pillaging and burning all in their wake. Despite her defiant struggle, Lara was captured and bound to be taken aboard the Viking ship as a prized possession. Her desperate pleas fell on deaf ears as Thorstein's icy blue eyes showed neither mercy nor compassion for his beautiful captive.
Aboard the Norse vessel, Lara soon discovered the harsh realities of her new life as a thrall to the domineering Viking chieftain. She was forced to tend to Thorstein's every need, all while enduring his rough handling and devouring gaze which seemed to undress her with carnal desire. Though she raged against her captor, Lara could not deny the spark of forbidden passion that had been ignited by Thorstein's raw masculinity and animal magnetism.
As the weeks passed, an undeniable chemistry grew between captive and captor. In unguarded moments, Thorstein revealed his soul to be not just that of a merciless raider, but a man haunted by a tragic past. Lara's hatred slowly transformed into intrigue and finally smoldering lust as their encounters became increasingly charged with sexual tension. One moonlit night, their pent-up desires could no longer be contained as they came together in a feverish clash of naked flesh, tangled limbs, and primal passion.
Though their lovemaking was intensely passionate, Lara knew her new-found bliss could be fleeting. Thorstein's men grew restless and urged their leader to return to the Viking lands before winter's icy grip took hold. Lara realized that as a thrall, she may be discarded or left behind once they made landfall. Fearing the loss of her Viking lover, she plotted an escape, only to be caught and severely disciplined by the furious Thorstein who felt deeply betrayed.
When at last the longboat reached Thorstein's village, a new deadly threat emerged - the deranged and vengeful Ulfrik Sigurdsson, a fellow Viking chief who held an ancient blood grudge against Thorstein. In a vicious attack, Ulfrik's berserkers slaughtered Thorstein's clan and left him for dead. It was only through Lara's healing hands that Thorstein was able to cling to life.
Battered but undeterred, the duo faced a harrowing journey across the unforgiving Scandinavian wilderness, relentlessly pursued by Ulfrik's hunters. Against all odds, their passion only grew more ardent as they overcame every obstacle through grit, determination, and an inextinguishable love that defied the boundaries between a Viking and his one-time captive.
Finally arriving at Thorstein's allied kingdom, a great battle was inevitable. As Ulfrik's horde laid siege, Thorstein was able to rally his forces for one cataclysmic clash that would decide the fate of the two lovers. Through the din of clashing swords and battle cries, Thorstein fought like a man possessed, vanquishing every foe until only Ulfrik remained. In a climactic duel, Thorstein was finally able to slay his nemesis, once and for all.
Battered and bloodied from the fray, Thorstein pulled Lara into a searing embrace. No longer would they be kept apart by the chains of captor and captive. In that moment, the fearsome Viking raider proclaimed Lara as his wife and equal in the eyes of the Norse gods and clan. Their bond had been forged by the fires of adversity and tempered in the most passionate of desires. As the village celebrated their union, Thorstein and Lara knew that their epic saga of forbidden love had only just begun.
