A fantasy/sci-fi adventure in the Adalta series. Marta, a sword-swinging girl who rides an incredible flying creature meets Altan, the arrogant young aristocrat in a high-tech-space-girl meets elemental-magic-wielder on a lost planet colonized centuries before by refugees from Earth.Secretly sent to the planet Adalta to assess its resources and trade potential, Marta knows her job. And she knows she can't get attached--she's not staying.Then she meets her Karda, the wondrous flying creature she grows to love. And Altan, the arrogant aristocrat with strange elemental powers.When Altan rescues her from a blood magician's murder attempt, suddenly he and Marta can speak telepathically.However hard she fights it, and however often she repeats her mantra, "Don't get attached," she does.Forced to be together they face bandits, treachery, revolt, blood-sex-and-death magic--and their growing relationship.Then Marta is captured by the blood magician. Will Altan rescue her? Or will she rescue herself?