When Tempest Riverrun is taken from Earth, survival is the only thing on her mind.

She had already reached the end of her rope back home, standing on the edge of a life she didn’t want anymore. But instead of death, Tempest wakes up on Thraqe, a brutal alien world scarred by war and ruled by customs she barely understands.

The High Council gives her a choice.

She can wander into the alien wilderness alone and try to survive among the predators, or she can choose a mate from the warriors of Thraqe and live under his protection for six months.

To the people of Thraqe, the decision should be simple. Their species is struggling to rebuild after years of war, and human women are seen as potential mates capable of restoring their future.

But not every warrior is considered worthy of a human bride.

Dron has spent his entire life being feared.

The black scars that twist along his arm mark him as cursed, a man destined for violence and military service. When battles end, he isn’t celebrated like other warriors. He’s hidden away behind reinforced walls, treated as something dangerous that must be contained.

No woman on Thraqe would ever choose him.

Until Tempest does.

What begins as a desperate decision quickly becomes something far more complicated. Dron may look terrifying, but the brooding alien warrior proves to be surprisingly gentle with the fragile human who chose him when no one else would. Beneath the scars and the reputation is a fiercely loyal male who has never known affection, never known touch, and never imagined someone might want him.

Tempest must learn to navigate the strange customs of Thraqe, the harsh alien wilderness that surrounds them, and the powerful instincts of the alpha male who now considers her his mate.

But not everyone believes humans belong on Thraqe.

Some see Tempest and the other abducted women as the only hope for the future. Others believe mixing blood with humans will weaken their people forever.

And the moment Tempest chooses the most feared warrior on the planet, she becomes part of a conflict far bigger than herself.

Because on Thraqe, mates are not temporary.

And the warrior everyone calls cursed is beginning to believe that Tempest was meant to be his all along.

Tempest's heart felt as if it were about to explode. She pressed a hand to her chest as she leaned against the door she just closed behind her.


"Tempest?" Gerax questioned. "Are you well? Did something happening."


Tempest shook her head, and the world started to spin. She had to get her breathing under control. The last thing she wanted to do was pass out again. She needed to stay vigilant of her world around her.


"Tempest?" Gerax called for her again, this time getting a little closer. "Did he harm you? What happened? I knew this was a bad idea. I promise you Dron will be dealt with in a swift manner."


Fear for the man who had just lit her world on fire caused Tempest to focus.


That was the last thing that he wanted to do. She put a hand up to stop Gerax. "No, don't do that." She spat out just as Gerax lifted his wrist to activate his floating tablet.


Chapter 16 - Chapter 16