Ixceramenops is a Menops bounty hunter in search of something vital, but what he finds when he reunites with Tarin is far more than he bargained for. Even though she's small and weak and disgustingly human, he still finds her fascinating and can't keep his antennas from straining in her direction. He craves the chance to spend more time with her, but time is not on his side. He's made a deal with the mysterious and calculating Halian, an Iriduan traitor he believes will save him from his own nature, but it involves lying to Tarin and her friends. When something goes awry while Ixcera is carrying out his end of the bargain, he and Tarin are teleported to another world--one that is inhospitable to them both. A deadly encounter forces Ixcera to undergo a metamorphosis, leaving his body altered in a way that makes it impossible for him to ignore his growing feelings for Tarin. But secrets, lies, and a past he can't change form a seemingly insurmountable obstacle between them. Hunter must prove he's worthy of his queen and earn her forgiveness for his past mistakes, but the consequences of those mistakes have yet to fully manifest--and when they do, no one will be safe. *** This book is the fifth book in the Iriduan Test Subjects series. Don't miss the other monsters and aliens in the series: Book 1: The Scorpion's Mate Book 2: The Kraken's Mate Book 3: The Serpent's Mate Book 4: The Warrior's Mate Book 5: The Hunter's Mate Book 6: The Fractured Mate Book 7: The Iriduan's Mate Book 8: The Clone's Mate Content warning for all the books in the series can be found on the author's website.