By Order of the King

Orphaned at the age of 11, Skye was the sole survivor of a devastating fire that destroyed her home in a village in the Scottish Lowlands of 1301. By order of King Cinaed, her reluctant uncle was forced to take her in, though he left her upbringing to his maids. As Skye grew older, her uncle saw her marriageable age as an opportunity to rid himself of her. However, Skye, haunted by the scars of her past and fearful of rejection, sent away every suitor her uncle brought to the castle. When a new order from the King arrived, the entire family, including Skye, delightedly welcomed the news. But Skye’s heart was gripped by fear and uncertainty beneath her composed exterior. Her greatest dread was about to come true, threatening to upend her fragile sense of security and thrust her into an unknown future. Unbeknownst to Skye, forces beyond her control set the stage for a journey filled with secrets, betrayal, and unexpected alliances. As the shadows of her past collide with the demands of her present, Skye must navigate a web of intrigue to uncover the truth and find her place in a world turned upside down.