Seeking a cure for her chronic pain, Nova flees to Zairion Prime, where mysterious half-man, half-bug Arthropoids turn women into hucow pets.
Twenty years earlier she watched Earth crumble through a tiny viewport, and she now realizes the puzzles she is employed to solve have life-or-death consequences.
Dr. Zyren meant only to obtain a hucow for his patients, yet examining Nova makes it impossible for him to leave her pain untreated.
Possessive passion breaks past the defenses both of them try to keep, and hope becomes the thing she fears most.
He offers no certain cure, only the vow that her pain will belong to him.
