Travarius, crown prince of Thespeia, escapes the sack of his city by the ruthless despot Xanthor - and Xanthor's plans to bed him by force - by throwing himself on the mercy of the powerful mage Anteros. Travarius would pay any price to convince Anteros to call upon the god he serves to free his people. But Anteros is the avatar of Eros, and the price he claims will be Travarius's heart.