It has been three years since the fall of Simon de Montfort and, still, there are lingering de Montfort supporters in England that are being systematically rooted out and subdued. At a particularly nasty battle at Kennington Castle, Torran and the royal army manage to raze the castle and kill all but two members of the oppositionist's family—a lovely young woman and her excitable younger brother. Torran is introduced to Lady Andia St. Albans.

Richard "Roi" de Lohr is the second son of Richard the Lionheart's champion, Christopher de Lohr. Roi was raised in the finest homes and with the finest training. Emerging as a powerful and intelligent knight, he married the woman he wanted and enjoyed the life of prestige he had earned. When his wife gave birth to a son, Roi's life was complete. Until tragedy strikes. When Roi's wife dies in childbirth with their second child, he is devastated. But he's a de Lohr, and de Lohrs don't crumble. He raises his son alone, proud that the lad promises to take his place among the great de Lohrs.

Enormous, with a Scots father and a Greek mother, Tay Munro is the stuff gods are made of. He is also the meanest, biggest, nastiest trainer of men at Blackchurch. Most importantly, he is a firm believer that women should not be warriors and he does his best to wash out the female he is assigned to train. Enter Athdara de Ghent. Beautiful and mysterious, Tay is attracted to her from the start but that does not stop his attempts to break her. When he realizes how strong she is, he becomes intrigued.

Beiste MacDougall has only just found himself as laird of his clan after a brutal attack from Vikings leaves his father slain. On the night of his sire's death, a beautiful woman comes to his castle begging for help, calling upon a vow their clans had made years before. Though he'd rather wallow in his pain, Beiste is tempted by the lass, the secrets she holds, and the chance at retribution she brings.

Lady Douglass de Clifford is reticent about marrying an English soldier who holds a Scottish castle for their king. Ater all, she doesn’t really believe the English should be battling the Scots for their own land. When she arrives in Dumfries, their party is unexpectedly ambushed. Besieged by rebel Scots, she is tossed from her horse, only to be saved by a Highland warrior who promises safety even as he absconds with her. She vows to run away, until his tender kiss makes her doubt everything she has ever known.