Aries

He’s an admitted killer with a secret past.
She’s the only woman who can save him.
In a ritual that forbids touch but demands intimacy, one accidental brush of skin could result in death.

Callie
I volunteered to save him without thinking twice.
Now I’m stuck in ancient redemption rituals with the brooding gladiator I’ve carefully avoided for five years.
The rules are simple:
• live together
• prove our bond is genuine
• absolutely no touching
But as each intimate trial reveals the honorable male behind his walls, I’m facing an impossible truth:
The gladiator I thought cold and distant has been protecting me all along—from himself and the truth behind his so-called crime.

Aries
I don’t deny I killed someone. I deserve death.
But Callie sees something in me worth saving—even as I push her away.

The rituals demand emotional intimacy.
The trials forbid even a single touch.
Every confession peels back my armor.
Every moment with her tempts me to risk everything.

When our enemies sabotage the trials to ensure my execution, I’m left with one impossible choice:
Accept a pardon that means losing her forever—
Or risk death for a love I never thought I deserved.

This enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn sci-fi romance features a protective hero with a tragic past, a strong heroine who stands her ground, and trials designed to break even the strongest connection. If you like emotional healing, hard-won trust, and love that defies the harshest judgment, this book delivers the perfect blend of action and romance that USA TODAY Bestselling author Alana Khan readers expect.