To love another is worth the risk of burning out one’s mind.

Captain Nick Steele is young to be in command of a starship, and his Astrogator, Cai, is fresh from the Guild Halls himself, which is not how things are supposed to be done. It’s bad enough that they’re both wet behind the ears, but Nick quickly discovers that he’s irresistibly drawn to Cai like a moth to a flame, with the same relative risks the moth faces. Cai proves the stronger man when he tells Nick in no uncertain terms that he can’t risk burning out Nick’s mind for the sake of some physical pleasure. As their ship spirals into the dark heart of Tarasch, will Nick ever overcome Cai’s objections to their mutual attraction?