Itu is an exiled prince of the planet Bergradi when an invading army executes his estranged royal family. Escaping the planet with the help of his manservant, Grekor, Itu wants to settle somewhere far away and be safe. While he loves his planet he never planned to rule there-men of his type (those favoring men) had no change of authority. 
 Finding work on Outpost Sema, Itu and Grekor attempt to build a new life. They have no idea a Galactic Enforcer, Loka, is stationed nearby. Loka receives the contract on Itu's life-which he notes is amended from execution to observation and notification-if Itu seems poised to return to Bergradi. Loka accepts the contract and befriends Itu, never anticipating falling for the beautiful, compassionate man who is his target. 
 As the political state of Bergradi continues to degrade some big galactic players come to the fore, and Itu must choose whether to accept the meager terms of the invaders, or be bold, as his true father had been. I really enjoyed this story. The plot had excellent pacing and a logical progression. There is a nice bit of intrigue, and some harrowing moments, but it never felt melodramatic. I liked how the romance built, with Loka being a considerate and patient partner to his younger and less-experienced lover. I think, however, the dialogue could have been a bit better written. There was too much of our everyday slang, for me, which detracted from the otherwise excellent sci-fi world-building and political thriller elements.