In four hundred years, Rayven has never met a woman like Rhianna McLeod. She is a vision of light, or warmth, of everything he is not -- nor can ever be. Doomed to live forever in darkness and solitude, he knows all too well the risk of getting close to her, yet he hungers for her with a fierce passion he's sworn he'll never allow himself to feel.

Rhianna's father sells her to Rayven to put food on the table -- so she has no choice but to go with the dark stranger. To her surprise, he gives her everything she wants -- the finest clothes, education, and the run of the castle -- everything, that is, except his touch. For although she senses danger beneath his soft-spoken manner, although even Rayven himself warns her away, she is drawn to this creature of the night, and loves him as she can no other.