Warrior and woodcarver Kieran O'Brannon sold himself into captivity to save his brother's life...but to win his freedom, he must carve the image of his master's betrothed, spending hours each day with a woman he cannot have. Beautiful and haunted by loss, Iseult MacFergus is searching for her lost child. As she spends time with the powerful, brooding captive, she realizes that Kieran's pain mirrors her own. Their loneliness turns to fierce desire, though honor holds them apart. When they are attacked by Viking invaders, Kieran must make the hardest choice of all-but to save the woman he loves, he must sacrifice everything...