Starbright

Divinity Travers was born on a cargo ship. She's worked the shipping lanes between Earth and its Kepler colonies spending years alone in space. Divinity doesn't believe the wild tales old timers tell about aliens that turn into animals. There's never been Earth contact and humans have been in space for half a century. She's sure the universe holds no mysteries--until it does. Divinity has never seen anything like Ares' ship. Her captor is hot-as-hell, but not human. Aliens are the last thing she ever expected.Ares, Prince of the Linked Worlds, is running for his life. His cousin Daedalus wants him dead. Ares needs an heir to secure the ancient family line before he can reclaim his birthright. Ares's alien crew is not compatible for mating. When they detect a lone female, whose physiology is hospitable, he gives the order to capture her alive at all cost. Even though she's not a shifter, she could bear his child. Ares offers to honor her with his genetic gift, in the primitive way, but Divinity is not compliant. He doesn't understand how she can decline the chance to be the mother of a child born to rule. Divinity just wants to return to the Milky Way. The prince discovers human courtship is a lot more work than just telling her his title. Divinity's resistance is an emotional m?l?e. She challenges him more than any other female he's ever known. Ares doesn't understand why, but he finds this human worthy of the campaign. This book is 15,300 words. The story was original published in the Prowlers and Growlers Anthology. The anthology placed on the USA Today Bestseller List.