Prey

Prey, by Writers of the Future Award-Winning Author, Wendy Rathbone Captain Mordecai Paronne's routine is disrupted! When nine rescued slaves board his starship, he is forced to recall an incident when he was 17 where he narrowly escaped being abducted by the same mysterious aliens these men have lived with for many years. Now the nightmare is upon him again. What these men, and countless others who remain in captivity went through defies all ethics and behavior Mordecai holds under close control. Add to that, the reports he is receiving from the eldest captive, 25 year old Arcana, are horrifying and devastating, but also darkly erotic. Extremely conflicted, Mordecai begins to feel mired in shameful desires he is determined to resist. Arcana is the most beautiful human Mordecai has ever laid eyes on. While Arcana should be broken by all he has been through, Mordecai soon learns that Arcana is a survivor who is unashamed by what he went through, and who blatantly talks of his love for his captor, and his own strange desires that gave him a foundation from which he could gain strength to survive seven years in an alien realm. But though Arcana appears mentally and physically healthy, is also very troubled. He knows he cannot fit easily back into human society. He does not wish to be reunited with his family, nor does he have skills that can land him a legitimate job. Adept at getting what he needs to survive, Arcana places all his focus on seducing Mordecai, who represents everything he thinks he needs to live, to be happy, and most of all, to feel safe. Will Arcana's tendencies and honesty be enough to win a man with a compulsive need for control of his ship and his own personal life? Can Mordecai reconcile his darker desires with an insecurity that he is incapable of giving Arcana what he needs? A gay, fantasy/scifi romance. Mature content: Contains depictions of torture and sexual assault, but not between the two main characters. Also contains scenes of a psychologically dark nature.