Val is a member of the captive born. She's been trained her whole life for a moment like this. A moment where she is sold to a man she doesn't know, but whom she must please... in any way he sees fit. Because in Val's world, that's the law. The civil war never happened and slavery is legal. But it's not based on race, religion or creed. The government stepped in long ago and made certain that everything was fair, that every faction of society was represented equally. But that doesn't mean everyone agrees. No. The country is actually split right down the middle over the issue of captive lives, with tension rising all the time. And the Riggs family in particular has spent decades leading the charge to abolish the practice. So when their heir apparent makes a move no one anticipated, it comes as quite a shock. Because Jason Riggs is now the head of that powerful family and the eye of the country is on him. He's rich and young and talented. He has everything he could ever want... and then he sees Val. She's forbidden to him, but he just can't help himself, he has to have her. So he does the one thing his family would never approve of... he buys her.