The Suns of Anarchy — Ash Gray

The last princess of Qorlec is back, this time surviving the harsh purple deserts of the planet Anarchy. In the hauntingly beautiful oasis of Lot'vasa, Quinn must learn new languages and cultures, endure marriage, motherhood, and the brutal training of the entirian resistance �" and keep from tripping over her skirt and falling down the stairs -- all while simultaneously earning the respect of her people. Not all are willing to fall blindly in line behind an entirian princess who not only was raised by humans, but also associates with zonbiri aliens as lovers and friends. To survive among her own, Quinn must fight harder and bloodier than any of them. Though she eventually earns the respect of many, one deadly and vicious group known as Avatar demands that she prove her worthiness by killing her human mother, Rose. 

Quotes: 

He knew in that moment that falling in love with her would destroy him, and so he decided at once that he would do his damnedest to despise her.
-

He stood over her for a time, simply looking at her as he willed himself to climb into bed, and he knew doing so would make it utterly impossible to hate her. She looked so innocent and vulnerable as she dreamt, and it was difficult to hate someone once you had seen them sleeping.
-

“What do you understand of entirian biology? Has the general had this discussion with you?”

Quinn made a face. “I know the birds and the bees.”

Ckylar frowned. “What's a. . . bee?”

Quinn snorted to hold back a laugh. “No, I mean . . . I understand sex.”

“I doubt you do,” said Ckylar, and Quinn stiffened indignantly. “You probably have some basic grasp of human sex, which is not exactly like entirian sex. Human women are lacking a few . . . appendages.” He cleared his throat. “Maybe your tentacles haven't dropped yet, so you wouldn't realize.”

Quinn paused. “My what?”
-

Ckylar glowered steadily at the book, refusing to meet her eye, refusing to let it become a touching moment. He tapped the book again. “Let's continue. Stop that �" stop smiling at me!”

“I can't help it,” she said with a laugh. “I like you. You're my friend, aren't you?”

“Yes,” he said dismally. Dammit, he thought dismally.

--

Varzo rolled her eyes, putting her own buckets back on her shoulders and rising as well. “Of course I care, Quinn. We're friends, you idiot.”

“We're friends? When did that happen?”

“I dunno,” Varzo realized. “It just sorta . . . happened.”