An alien abduction romance. Updates every weekday.
Grant has a tolerance for boredom. Late shift in a middle-of-nowhere facility? Sign him up. If the money's good, he'll happily take the peace and quiet of a long night watching an empty cell.
And then he meets Subject B-31. Blue, beautiful, and completely inhuman. Her captors call her Batty, thanks to her big ears and the way she hangs upside down by her tail.
He's told not to talk to her. He's told to think of her as a test subject, not a person. He's told to cash his checks and live his humble life. He's told to ignore the sorrow on her face and the desperation in her crimson eyes. Maybe he should have listened. When he finally busts her out, the rescue isn't a rescue at all: it's an abduction.
Batty is Princess Sykora, of the tyrannical Taiikari Empire. She commands the Black Pike, a massive voidship on the imperial frontier. Grant must learn a new life, in a firmament filled with ambitious nobles, deadly rivals, and the sinister smiles of the Taiikari Imperial Court. And he'll have to learn fast.
Because when the Princess of the Void looks at Grant, she doesn't just see a savior—she sees a husband.
And she isn't asking.
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This story is only being uploaded here, my patreon, and Royalroad (eventually). If you're reading it elsewhere, it's stolen. Come hang out one of those places instead.
Discord: https://discord.gg/bTyddNPMq7
Support me and read ahead on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/dukers
Disclaimer: I've read ahead on the author's Patreon, so this review takes that into account but I won't spoil anything.
I binged through the first ten chapters of this story in one sitting. I can't get enough of the two leads and their fun tension and power dynamics. This is a rare sci fi story that stays focused on the characters without getting distracted by technology. The aliens and their society are well thought out and have a meaningful impact on the relationship between the two main characters. I'm very excited to follow along.
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I rarely leave reviews, but I gotta say that this is the bomb. 11/10 on essentially everything. Somehow Duke manages to write perfect prose that never fails to make me smile. The characters are all very well done with much depth, and interactions feel very real and fun. The world building is there without need to awkwardly info dump, and there's a bit for every sci-fi fan to enjoy. I highly recommend this story if you're just looking for a great romance, some S tier smut, or just a good read in general. I promise you won't be disappointed.
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Great start to a story, sweet interactions, solid dialogue, and I’m excited to see where this all goes.
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