A blessing and a curse... Seven years ago, a single moment changed the course of Nicholaus Bock's life forever-the moment his preternatural Gift to heal awakened in him. A gift that made him an invaluable commodity to the known galaxy. Now his mentor's intriguing and secretive new student goes out of her way to challenge his loyalty to everything he values. A dark secret... After facing death and destruction during the Anferthian invasion, Sakura Yamata revels in her new-found Gift to heal. Helping Earth's survivors keeps her mind off the loss of her family, and the memory of the terrible choices she made. Nick could penetrate her defenses and discover what she's hiding. She must not let the handsome healer close enough for that to happen. A race facing annihilation... When a mysterious disease strikes the hidden sanctuary of the Anferthian dissenters, Nick and Sakura are called in to help. But someone is going to great lengths to ensure the dissenters don't survive. Nick and Sakura must set aside their differences and work together to save them before the fragile peace between three worlds is shattered.