The President's Daughter. Ptorix Empire, #7

A soldier who was never meant to fight again. A woman who refuses to be ruled by her past. Darius Fletcher isn't ready for retirement. After years on the sharp edge of war, a luxury star cruise feels less like a reward and more like exile. But the moment he sees one of the passengers, everything inside him goes still. He knows her. Cilla Beckstein has rebuilt her life from the ashes of her past. Boarding the star cruiser under a new identity, with her fierce jungle companion Maahes at her side, she is determined that no one will ever control her fate again.
She won't be defined by what was done to her-and she won't surrender her freedom. When a violent incident aboard the cruiser rips open old wounds, Cilla is forced into action. What begins as a desperate rescue mission across a brutal, untamed world quickly becomes a deadly hunt. This time, Darius refuses to stand aside. As danger closes in, Cilla realizes the past isn't what she fears most-it's losing the one man who sees her strength, understands her scars, and loves her without condition.
When the enemy comes for her again, can Cilla, Darius, and Maahes rewrite their fate. or will history claim them both?If you love high stakes adventure, slow burn attraction, and a heroine who refuses to stand down, The President's Daughter is your next escape. This story was first published in Pets in Space 9.