A Sacrifice of Flesh and Fury

With tensions rising on Earth, former mortal enemies find their newfound romance threatened by interstellar distance—and an alien attack. The invading alien Astrals have been stopped in their tracks, humanity's warring political factions have been consolidated under a semi-united Earth Federation government, and the lag time between Kari Skye and Drae Rache's Sympathetic Program exchanges has stretched to a week. All less than a month after they consummated their relationship on her father's Raider ship.

Now, Space Force soldier Kari is deploying on a secret interstellar mission against the Astrals, with her bunkmate, Luna, in tow and her family close behind. But Kari's handsome new commanding officer, Major Apollo, is drawing her attention . . . and he may be the only one with an actual plan to stop the alien threat. Not to mention she's beginning to have strange nightmares, ones that may send her home for good.

Meanwhile, Drae has become a secret agent for the Resistance against the Federation government, seeking to disarm the stars in favor of diplomacy. But Drae also finds himself tempted by Willow, the headstrong Resistance fighter who carries him messages from Resistance leader Trebond. And with tensions rising on campus, his predatory former best friend, Jude, is suddenly back at UC Berkeley—and he wants revenge.

Can Drae and Kari maintain their fledgling romance? Or will the pressures of college, deployment, and long-distance love turn them back into enemies?