Catch the lightning

Centuries from now, humanity has spread across a large part of the galaxy, and the Skolian Empire holds a third of it, making it the strongest power among them. Its ruling family owes that dominance to a telepathic gift, which lets them send messages between stars faster than light.

Their fiercest rivals are the traders, a people who feed on human suffering. The traders believe that mixing their blood with a Skolian will give them the same powers, and they have now captured a woman they hope to use for that purpose.