KISS THE ALIEN CHAMPION OR LOSE THE MOON

Human pilot Leo Mercer enters the Crown Circuit to win the Moon from undefeated Orathi champion Varessa Korr. Every legal victory transfers control of the lunar gravity engine—but their first rescue exposes Varessa’s forbidden courtship pattern to billions. When a private vector exchange registers them as a single team, they discover the tournament is charging an orbital cannon regardless of who wins. To survive the fifth match, both champions must give up the titles their worlds built around them.

A human pilot must defeat the four-eyed alien champion to save the Moon, until their forbidden gravity bond makes victory the deadliest possible outcome.