Two worlds unite Idealistic, honor-bound Henry has lost his way. Alone and enslaved in a foreign land, he has surrendered his hope, his faith, and his belief in love. The only light in his darkness is the daughter of his captor, the mysterious and beguiling Alya. The only child of a Genovese merchant and a daughter of Cairo, Alya's world is shattered when her father forces her to leave her home and everything she knows to save her life. As her guide in the new world she must enter is Henry-a blue-eyed, golden-haired stranger who fascinates and intrigues her. Together they embark on a perilous journey to reach safety, but their growing bond must face tests neither is prepared for. Ignorance and intolerance threaten their hasty marriage of convenience and, eventually, Alya's life. Amidst a clash of cultures, they must find a way to survive and for their love to grow.