Publisher's Synopsis
Being a slave wasn't so bad. Alina had all the necessities a person could ever need. Who cared if the roof leaked when it rained, her bed was made out of straw, her clothes were riddled with holes, or her food was a thick paste she'd named "field mush." It was better than being exiled to the Forbidden Land. Like her parents had been. Unfortunately, her simple life would come to an end. Fear of the sickness leads Alina to make a rash decision: she would marry the vile Zane Bishop. The way she figured, she'd end up an exile in the Forbidden Land soon enough, so why not sacrifice herself in order to save her territory? No, not just her territory, her best friend. Keb was all she had, and she'd do anything for him. Even if that meant leaving and marrying a despicable stranger so that Keb could live a peaceful life.
