First published 2018
Mari has spent her life as a slave, trained as an engineer on a vessel repair station. When her owner unexpectedly grants her freedom and secures her a position aboard The Vorge, she sees her chance at a new life. She throws herself into her work, determined to prove her worth to Captain Vorge and his crew. Her freedom depends on staying valuable enough to keep around. Dovis runs security on The Vorge. The massive, intimidating alien has no patience for humans, viewing them as weak and bothersome. The ship doesn't need another human crew member, especially not a female whose relentless work ethic makes everyone else look incompetent. He wants Mari off his ship. Then he actually meets her. Mari is small, gentle, and unexpectedly beautiful. Now Dovis wants her gone for entirely different reasons. His attraction to this human disturbs him deeply. Worse, he can't tell whether Mari's growing interest in him stems from genuine feeling or something else entirely.
Genres: science-fiction, romance, space-opera, adult-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: The Vorge
153 pages · Paperback · Laurann Dohner
Content warnings: slavery