He's an Ujal who knows he'll never have a mate. She's a human who doesn't want to take another chance on love. One small child doesn't give them a choice. With her toddler in tow, Vanessa Walker travels to Tampa, Florida to begin her new job at Ujal Station Tau. Then problems arise-her daughter is ill, and a sexy, demanding, overwhelming, purple-scaled Ujal is determined to do whatever he can to save Tabitha. When they realize Tabby isn't ill, she's Ujal, plenty of people don't want Vanessa raising her newly tail-sporting alien daughter. Ujal royalty may support her, but only one person-one Ujal male-makes her feel safe: Erun fa Arex. Erun fa Arex earned his position through blood, sweat, and scales with a trident as his constant companion. On Earth, he is the captain of the principessa's elite guard, a worthy Ujal warrior matched by few. On Ujal, he grew up as a child slave forced to fight for sport and others' pleasure. Fighting left physical and mental scars while the master's growth-hormone injections left him unable to father younglings. Erun never considered mating and having a family of his own until he meets Vanessa and Tabitha. Now he realizes everything he rejected-a mate and family-is exactly what he desires. And he will fight to keep them... to the death.