When Ixiana is kidnapped from her family's fortress by a brutal warlord, she fears physical harm of the worst kind. But the warlord is after a ransom, something to change the fate of his people. Ixiana is simply a means to an end—an annoying captive whose weakness frustrates him. When he starts teaching her to fight, it's painful for both of them—until their mutual anger and frustration ignites a new kind of fire. Contains mature themes. Trigger and content warnings are available on the author's website.