Hanna Bradley's new neighbor turned out to be more than she expected. More than she could have dreamed of. And when her old nightmare came to life, Jon was there to stop it. She knows now that she wants him to be part of her life. But can she learn to be part of his? Jonantathinel of House Kanistelan , Commander of the Nine Winds, Subduer of Worlds, Legend of the Talessanin People, known across the intergalactic empire as The Viper, thought he could retire. He was wrong. Instead of the quiet descent into domestic obscurity he seeks, Jon finds himself hunted by an old enemy with a grudge, hounded by members of the imperial court wanting input on "the human question," and haunted by the mistakes of his past. Still, he is determined to break free of political entanglements, defy the disapproval of his family, and above all, to protect the woman he loves. But Dalathek is still out there. And there's no such thing as safe.