Alien Olympus (Starship’s Mage, #19)

They need allies
They need intel
They need time

Despite sacrifices and even victories, the Protectorate of the Mage-Queen of Mars is losing the war against the Reezh Kazh, the fascist theocracy that rules the only aliens they’ve ever met.

Ambassador Connor O’Hannagain has been sent to find allies among the reezh home worlds, the old and mighty systems that defied the Kazh once—but a centuries-long cold war has left the enemies of his enemy paranoid and violent.

Mike Kelzin, husband, pilot and spy, is the Protectorate’s eyes and ears, seeking every scrap of intelligence that can be found on the Kazh. But access to the enemy worlds is nigh impossible, leaving his best chances in the occupied Chimera System—where even the Resistance is entirely cut off from Mars.

Mage-Admiral Jane Alexander, Crown Princess and fleet commander, knows that they need time more than anything else. Time their enemy is unlikely to give them.

To turn the tide, Mars must buy allies, intelligence, and time—and only the oldest currency can pay for all three.

Blood.