Dr. Jac Kennon was looking for a fresh start. A recent veterinary graduate from the civilized, sedate world of Beta, Kennon was hungry for adventure and a salary that could secure his future. When an unprecedented offer arrives from the frontier planet Kardon, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime: a high-paying residency with Outworld Enterprises on the remote, lush island of Flora.
But the frontier is never as simple as the brochures suggest. Upon arriving at the sprawling, fortified estate of the powerful entrepreneur Alexander X. M. Alexander, Kennon is thrust into a world of corporate intrigue and deep-seated family rivalries. Even more unsettling is the discovery that lies at the heart of his new profession. The Lani—a species of humanoid beings with striking physical grace—are not citizens of the Brotherhood of Man. To the masters of Flora, they are something else entirely: highly valuable, expertly bred livestock.