She just came into my life out of nowhere, you know? My world was dark. No future, no way out. No light. But then she came. Suddenly I had a reason. She ain't even have to try; she just somehow found a way into my heart. She was my purpose. She was my light. She was so pure, so untainted by the horrors of this world; the complete opposite of me. I was meant to be alone. I knew then I didn't deserve her. But fuck it. She was the one.

Alaethia has spent a lifetime of luxury under her father's rule of the Persian Empire. When the city walls of her home are torn down by enemy clans she is sold by her father to ensure allies in battle. Betrothed to a man that has killed more men than the Devil himself, a favorable ally to have in war, but not in marriage. She is thrust into a world of fear and apprehension, where there are no people of her kind. In the commencement of the then small Roman Empire she finds that her color is a mark of surprise and curiosity for the people. Now Alaethia must fight to remain in control of her life, a man that vexes her every emotion, and as well prevent the destruction of all she has ever known.

...Alex just glares at me without responding. I slam the rest of my clothes into the bag. "I'm leaving." I declare out loud like it wasn't obvious. His hard ice blue eyes tears away from my face slowly and looks down at my bag then slowly back up to my face causing my heart to leap. After a few more silent seconds, he unfolds himself from leaning against the closet's door frame and quietly walk over to the bedroom door. Meeting and holding my startled gaze, he reaches over and slowly turns the lock on the door. "No you aren't."

Esther, Essie for short, is a slave on the Williams Plantation. Snatched away from her parents as a toddler and sold to Master Williams she grew up as a slave like her adopted mother. Essie is tired of the only life she knows, tired of the hard work, tired of the plantation, tired of keeping her head down. What will happen when she has a chance encounter with the one person she never thought she would see again: Gabriel Williams. Gabriel Williams is the heir to the Williams Plantation. After being sent away to live with his Aunt and Uncle after his mother's untimely death he returns home with a new mind set and a mission. However, things have changed a lot since he left and he has a run in with one of the kitchen girls who he remembers from his early days.