Distraught over her sister's disappearance and the illness that threatens her young daughter's life, Dale Stuart-Taylor seeks solace on the banks of the river that flows past her home. In the midst of a storm, a mysterious force transports her to an alien world. A man called Shadow rescues her from certain death, but then he takes her captive. Though he claims to consort with slave traders, he nurses her injuries and affords her gruff respect, awakening emotions she thought had died long ago with her husband. Unsettled by her unexpected and unwanted attraction to her captor, and frantic to return to her sick daughter, Dale fights to find a way home. Marooned on an alien world she must rely on Shadow's help – a man she fears she cannot trust.

Determined to end the traffic in human flesh that destroyed his family, warrior Raf de Jakar of the planet Tareth poses as Shadow, a slave trader, to find the slavers' leader. In the mountains, he finds a naked woman in the snow whom he believes the slavers have sent to test him. With her short hair, fiery temper, and unlikely warrior skills, Dale arouses more than his suspicion and grudging admiration. Uncertain of her motives and struggling against his attraction to her, Raf is forced to take her prisoner. As they traverse the dangerous mountain terrain, he comes to appreciate her true inner strength and sense of honor. But he cannot let his attraction to her distract him from his ultimate goal – the destruction of the slave trade.