He'd stood on that stage amid all the slaves, glaring fiercely at the announcer, black hair falling into his grimy face.

She'd been seated upon a cushion, her legs crossed daintily beneath her voluminous silk robes, a parasol held over her head.

A barbarian and a princess. One had received looks of terror, and the other adoring glances of admiration.

Brown eyes clashed with striking blue ones.

The princess raised a hand, and he found himself beneath a dark-haired angel's wing.