A novel of love, vengeance, and a world re-opened to the stars.

The empathic Tolari of the Beta Hydri system shunned space travel for thousands of years, until the former ruler of Monralar, Farryn, tried to shake his people from their isolation—tried and failed, losing his honor in the process. Now an exile, he strives to put his past behind him by building his own criminal empire among Earth's colonies.

Only Farryn's estranged lover Sharana—scholar, political analyst, and empathic sensitive—dares to follow him into human space, desperate to find out what has become of him, hopeful of convincing him that she never betrayed him. Unfortunately, Earth Central Security is watching, and when she falls into their hands, Farryn decides to rescue her – so he can kill her himself.