Ties of Power, by Julie E. Czerneda.
I have only recently discovered Julie Czerneda, a hidden gem in Canadian sf! This book is the continuation of her Trade Pact Universe series that started with A Thousand Words for Stranger.
Sira di Sarc is a member of the telepathic species known as The Clan. There are various factions present in the Clan who all have agendas. Chief among them is preventing Sira, the most powerful of their Clan from completing her bond with a human named Jason Morgan. Sira and Morgan have chosen self-imposed exile in an attempt to remove themselves from the Clan’s machinations but it doesn’t work and they are drawn back into the whole mess. Sira realises that she can’t just react to the plots around her but must take action herself in order to change her fate.
I really enjoy Czerneda’s writing style. There is humour, subtlety, and little bizarre touches (A hockey game! Hee!) You can tell that Czerneda used to be a biologist, because she is excellent at creating believable alien species. The best part about the books is that the tech and the characters are equally integrated. I read this book in one giant gulp this afternoon, and I wish I had bought book three because I can’t wait to see what happens in the conclusion.