Travan is a bleak planet where women serve only two purposes, breeding or trading for goods or services. Even so, Eireen is shocked when her uncle informs her she will be traded to the ruthless Leors, as a virgin bride, for a trade route. Eireen is known for her healing powers and uses this to try and persuade her uncle to change his mind but no amount of pleading helps her cause. If her uncle knew of her real powers, that of an Enhancer, her fate would be much worse. Quickly Eireen thinks of escape and ridding herself of her virginity, to this end she uses her Enhancer abilities and steals two jewelled daggers from her uncle before running from the castle. Panic strickened she stows away on an outgoing ship, and eventually ends up working in a Pleasure Dome. She has accomplished her first objective, that of escape and is now about to fulfill her second goal, losing her virginity.

Enter, Jarek san Ranul, leader of the Shielders. The Shielders are a race of people being systematically killed off by the Controllers and this has been weighing heavily upon Jarek. When his friend suggest a little R & R at a Pleasure Dome, Jarek at first resist, then thinks, Why the heck not!!!

At The Pleasure Dome Jarek is paired with Eireen. Jarek is Eireen's first "customer" and she is just a tiny bit nervous. Before the end of the session, they are attacked and Jarek is wounded and left for dead. Eireen uses her Enhancer abilities to save his life.

When Jarek makes a full recovery and realizes Eireen is an Enhancer, he thinks she's the answer to saving the Shielders and leading them to SHAMARA--to sanctuary, but in doing so, Eireen may lose her life.
The eternal dilemma: DUTY, HONOR, LOVE which will he choose?

Catherine Spangler has held me captive since her first book, SHIELDER. She is the quintessential storyteller. One who is able to bring her worlds and characters alive for you, so that you care what happens to the them, making you want to know more about them. There are very few authors I say that about, but Ms. Spangler is one of them.

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