If he can overcome the guilt that haunts him, he'll find himself surrounded by danger...

Niall McClaren returns to his ancestral castle only to find the entire place in mourning. His brother, the Laird of McClaren, has died, and before he can grieve, he is thrust into the role of the new Laird. But the greatest surprise awaits him: Elspeth Barbour, his late brother's betrothed, has arrived to marry the Laird.

Promised to the leader of the clan, Elspeth and Niall find themselves in an impossible situation as they are about to be wed. Niall, a tough warrior with scarred hands from countless battles, is unprepared to be either a Laird or a husband. Yet Elspeth is not one to give up easily; she resolves to help him bear the burdens that weigh on his soul.

As Niall grapples with his creeping guilt over marrying his brother's intended, a lurking threat emerges. With the old Laird gone, opportunists see a chance to seize power. But Niall and Elspeth prove to be a formidable duo. Those who seek the Lairdship will resort to unholy methods beyond belief to get what they want.

Can they stand together against the forces that threaten their clan, or will their inner turmoil tear them apart?