A shield-maiden and an exiled lord should never fall in love. . . Mariel serves in the king's army as a shield-maiden until the day she defies her commander. As punishment for her betrayal and to show the kingdom she is loyal, she is sent to assassinate an exiled lord. But the longer she stays in his castle, the more she falls in love with him. Until he reveals a terrible secret that forces Mariel to make an impossible choice. . . Lord of the Castle is the third tale in a series of stand-alone adult fairy tales blending fantasy action-adventure with steamy fantasy romance.