Samara dreams of a man to love her and give her children. But while she serves as priestess to the goddess of death that will never happen. No man would dare to touch her. No one, that is, until she is rescued from the desert by a man who compels her to lie about what she is. For Darouk, as Maker for the realm of Nehmir, death is his enemy. He's lost too many of his family too soon, including his infant nephew. He'd rather give his care and attention to building roads and buildings that last. He won't risk loving and losing a wife and family. But in order to save the king, the queen, and their chance at happiness, both Samara and Darouk must honor death, then choose love.