As a hayim -- a wanderer -- Teman values freedom over everything. He and his best friend, Jasim, are thieves for hire -- until they're caught. Given the choice between an inescapable lifetime dungeon sentence or palace pleasure slavery, they become slaves, but Teman vows to escape someday. Crown Amir Bathasar doesn't want the throne. When Teman saves his life, Bathasar requests the intriguing slave -- a first, given his disdain for slavery. He quickly falls for Teman who returns the feelings, but their fledgling relationship is strained when Bathasar's sadistic father Mukesh demands Teman. Bathasar cannot refuse and must sit and watch as Mukesh brutalizes Teman before the court. When the empress of a neighboring nation is outraged at Teman's treatment, Mukesh gifts her Jasim and Teman's hopes of escaping with his best friend vanish. With Jasim gone, Teman chooses to stay with Bathasar, despite the abuse he may suffer.