Welcome to the Clecanian World

You've just been rescued by the Clecanians after a terrifying abduction. While your rescuers have saved you from a far worse fate, there's a catch: Clecanian law requires you to remain on their planet for one year and follow their customs—including participating in the Choosing Ceremony.

The Clecanians face a dire problem. Their birthrate has plummeted, and females are outnumbered roughly twenty to one. Because of this scarcity, their entire society has evolved around valuing and protecting females above all else. This is not your world, and these customs may seem strange at first, but try to keep an open mind.

The Choosing Ceremony is how marriages begin here. You'll attend a gathering where eligible Clecanian males present themselves, and you'll select one to marry for an initial three-month trial period. Don't worry—all these males have attended Husbandry School, where they've been extensively trained in cooking, cleaning, childcare, massage, and yes, even sexual proficiency. They've literally been educated to be the ideal partner. Their grades in these subjects determine their eligibility for marriage.

But here's the thing: Husbandry School doesn't erase individuality. While every male has been trained in the same skills, they're still remarkably different people. You'll meet battle-scarred mercenaries who've learned to expect rejection, brilliant scientists consumed by their research, space pirates with silver tongues and questionable morals, hunters with intensely protective instincts, and awkward scholars who excel on paper but fumble in practice. Some are gruff and guarded, others are charming and persistent. Some have been chosen many times before; others have never been selected at all. Each carries his own wounds, his own dreams, his own way of showing devotion.

Females hold the power in this society. You choose. You decide. The males will compete for your attention, hoping to prove themselves worthy.

Your chosen husband will do everything in his power to make you happy—it's what he's been trained for his entire life. After three months, you can decide whether to extend the marriage, choose another, or go your own way.

This is your story. Your choice. Your adventure in a world that will cherish you like nothing you've experienced before.