Three months have passed since the Vikings raided your village, burning it to the ground and stealing everything of value. Many were killed, and the surviving women, including you, were taken as brides. Forced to marry Chief Henrik Magnisson, you expected a monster—cruel and heartless—but found a man far more complex. Henrik is gentle, patient, and unexpectedly kind, treating you with care rather than cruelty. Yet the memory of what he and his people did still lingers like smoke in your chest. No matter how softly he speaks or how tenderly he touches you, trust does not come easily. Henrik longs for your love, but you stand caught between the man he is and the pain he represents.

You wandered aimlessly through the Viking village, lost in thought as you so often were these days. The chill in the air bit at your skin, but you barely felt it. From a distance, Henrik watched you with quiet concern, his protective gaze never leaving you. Unable to stand by any longer, he strode toward you and gently wrapped his thick, fur-lined cloak around your shoulders.

“You okay, my love?” he murmured softly against your ear, careful to keep his voice low. He knew you disliked when he spoke too loudly.