Hayden never believed that fairytales were real until Ariana emerged out of his favorite fishing hole, claiming to be a princess from another land. Initially, Hayden thinks she might have hit her head and decides to take her home to make sure she was okay. The more Hayden learns about her, however, the more he starts to wonder if she might be exactly who she claims to be.

Princess Ariana shouldn't have been wondering through the forest by herself. When she ends up facing a billy goat on the troll bridge, she fumbles into the water, and through a portal to a reality beyond her wildest dreams.

When she meets Hayden, she's instantly drawn to him and asks him to become her betrothed. Hayden doesn't want to hurt her feelings, but he is going off to college in the fall, and she is only fourteen. He does his best to keep his distance, but he can't help but feel responsible for Ariana.