Driven by her grief and fury at the loss of Kantou, Soleyla Devarian leads her forces to victory against the Nine-Star League. Planet after planet falls to Soleyla's revolution, aided by the slaves who rally to her cause. Now the only hurdle remaining is the conquest of Argulus, the capitol planet of the Nine-Star League, ruled by Soleyla's mother.
In a deadly face-off between mother and daughter, Soleyla finally learns the shocking fate of Danel, her first pleasure-slave -- and discovers that Rachel Devarian holds Kantou's fate in her cold grasp as well. Can Soleyla find a way to save her beloved Kantou, or must she sacrifice the man she loves to save the galaxy from her mother's tyranny?
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Reviews
ECataRomance Reviewer's Choice Nominee!
5 Stars! "One of the best examples of erotic romance I've seen..." -- Just Erotic Romance Reviews
5 Nymphs! "Non-stop action, betrayal, lust, and hot sex up to last page!"
-- Literary Nymphs
5 Tattoos! "An amazing finish to an outstanding series! Ms. Dafoe has outdone herself." -- Erotic Escapades
5 Ribbons! "Ms. Dafoe writes with a breathtaking emotion that whisks the reader away into a realm of passion and fantasy that delights at every turn of the page. Never have characters drawn me into their lives as much as Soleyla, Kantou and Rolen have." -- Romance Junkies
5 Hearts! "Our hopes for a way for good to triumph over evil, and for love to save the day are fulfilled, but only after a rollercoaster ride of emotions that leave us breathless. Enjoy!" -- Love Romances & More
5 Kisses! "Readers, if there's any of you out there who haven't read this entire series, drop everything and run immediately to your nearest available online access; buy all three!" -- Two Lips Reviews
Soleyla had asked for a few moments alone. Glancing at her grim expression, Rolen had nodded, and quietly withdrawn. Now she stood alone in the long dining hall, its empty tables and vacant benches seeming to call forth ghosts from the shadows.
She should be pleased, Soleyla told herself firmly. What High Commander Amista had done for them was almost beyond belief. Nothing now stood between her and her final objective. Nothing except shadows.
Why can't I cry?
The child-house of Marbul towered around her, echoingly empty. Marda, of all people, had volunteered to take the children born into slavery back to Antoros. They would have a life there -- a chance at a life, at least. And Soleyla had more than enough navigators for the fleet now at her command.
The slaves of Marbul hadn't surprised her -- not after Harth. They'd flocked to her by the hundreds, the thousands, massing before the nine waiting ships, shouting for a chance to fight for her. And she had the resources, now, to arm them. No, what had shocked her were the number of Guardians who'd stood among them, grim-faced and determined. Not half, no, not even a third of the massive army garrisoned on Marbul -- but enough. More than enough.
She should be pleased, she told herself.
Here and there, she'd seen a Guardian holding hands with what was obviously her slave, shoulder to shoulder as they volunteered in her army, or bidding each other a yearning farewell. The sight had torn fresh lacerations in her already-bruised heart.
It was here, at Marbul, that Soleyla had always assumed the troops 'ported to Antoros had originated from -- those same troops that had been slaughtered when Kantou had destroyed the advance base's main portal. The Guardian logbooks had proved that assumption correct.
And it was here, if anywhere, that she'd hoped to find Kantou.
But there was nothing. No trace of him. If the personnel portal had also been accessed from Marbul, no one had noted it. And no one had heard anything of a lost pleasure-slave.
Why can't I cry?
At her command, wood from Marbul's vast forests had been piled in the center of the hall. Soleyla stared at it wordlessly, then thrust the torch she carried into its midst.
Flames roared up, crackling in the dry timber. The air quickly grew overheated, sending beads of sweat rolling down the curve of her cheeks -- the only moisture to touch them. As the flames reached the ceiling, Soleyla turned and walked out.
She had something to do yet, and so she must go on.
She strode from the building, climbed a nearby hill and watched as the building was consumed by fire. Sparks and ashes swirled into the night sky, taking the bitter remains of hope with them.
Finally, she turned away. Behind her, the child-house blazed, a pyre to Kantou's memory. She strode past the others, barely seeing them. It was time to go. Time to finish this. She knew what had to be done.
The ship was waiting. There, she held conference in the briefing room, issuing last-minute commands to the Guardians staying behind to secure Marbul. Then, her back rigidly straight despite the exhaustion she felt, she went to her cabin and closed the door to find that one desolate, unanswerable question still awaiting her.
