1st read: May 2020
2nd read: May 2023

The Psy council forced Ashaya, a Psy scientist, to work on a project by holding her son hostage. When she saved two human children from another scientist, she asked Dark River to save her son, too. After her son is taken away from the council, she makes her own escape and finds herself in Dark River territory with Dorian, a leopard Changeling.

Dorian's sister was murdered by a Psy. He hates that he is drawn to Ashaya, but can't stop tear himself away.

There were a couple of misunderstandings, even though they didn't last super long. And Dorian is often abrupt and rude to Ashaya, even after he realizes his feelings for her. I understand that he has issues, but he doesn't treat Ashaya as kindly as she deserves, and that pisses me off.

I remember liking Dorian better in the novella about his childhood, so maybe I'll read that again soon and see what I think of him after that. ( )

Is it just me, or is Dorian more of an asshole/idiot than the others? Fortunately Ashaya is not too flustered by it, being both psy and having already broken her conditioning.
One tip for convincing someone you're not a threat to them: don't get in their face and snarl at them to trust you. Eye roll.
The stupidity seemed a bit too much, and I was more indifferent to this one than the previous ones. But still. Good escapism fodder.

Afterthought: there was one gem in this book I forgot to mention:
She was beautiful, something her intense intelligence had a tendency to overshadow
Really? How does that work? She is less beautiful because she is smart? She's so smart that you forget to notice she's also pretty? I seriously need an eye roll smiley to include in these reviews... ( )

Dorian and Ashaya are interesting, and I liked the conflict better here than in some of the others of this series. ( )

Separada de su hijo y obligada a crear un implante neurológico que significaría la esclavitud total de su raza de seres psíquicamente dotados, Ashaya Aleine es la psi perfecta; fría, serena, insensible… al menos por fuera. Por dentro está librando una batalla desesperada para salvar a su hijo y escapar de la sádica y fría PsiNet. Pero cuando logra escapar, la liberación no la conduce a la seguridad, sino a los brazos de un francotirador peligroso y letal.

Dorian Christensen, francotirador de DarkRiver, perdió a su hermana a manos de un asesino psi. Aunque carece de la capacidad para transformarse y adoptar forma animal, su leopardo vive dentro de él. Y la cólera de ese leopardo ante la brutal pérdida es una oscuridad corrosiva que ansía venganza. Dorian nunca planeó enamorarse de una psi, pero con la responsabilidad de proteger a Ashaya y a su hijo, descubre que la pasión tiene el don de cambiar las reglas…

Dorian and Ashaya. Good pairing. ( )