Skotan General Rouhr will destroy the Xathi on Ankau, whatever the cost. It's the only honorable solution for allowing the war to infect the human colony world. As soon as their ship is repaired, he and his men will be gone, back to the battle raging in the homeworlds. But the smiling eyes of one brave human leader set fire to his soul, the touch of her soft skin against his scales becomes an addiction. Needing her may be a distraction from his mission, but he can't stop. Not now. She's got her own responsibilities, people who depend on her. She understands that loving a leader sometimes means watching him leave. With every caress her heart breaks, but she can't walk away. Not yet.