Tracy St. John's Blog, page 8

Dark Empire Book Four: Revelations - Final Sneak Peek

 

 

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print

It's our final look at Revelations! Ospar is in very hot water with his furious clanmate.

* * * * 

The vision of a shadow clinging to Oiteil’s shoulders madeRivek doubt his own sight for an instant. He blinked hard and looked again,staring where it had been. No, he’d been wrong. There was no shadow.

But the men were definitely Ospar and Oiteil vanishingthrough the exit.

“Excuse me. I’ll meet you back at the temple,” he said tohis fellow priests. He didn’t wait for their response, bolting as quickly asthe crowded restaurant allowed him to. Again, people were eager to make way,but it felt as if it took forever for Rivek to reach the door and spill out tothe corridor beyond.

There was no sign of the councilman and his Dramok. Theshuttle pad at the top of the cliff. Rivek sprinted for the nearestelevator, his layered robes snapping about his legs.

He rushed out as soon as he reached the in-house transport’suppermost stop. Fortunately, there’d been only three levels between therestaurant and the cliff top.

The shuttles were lined up in tidy rows, and Rivek racedalong the pad’s end, looking along the aisles he passed. Many of the personalcraft were taking off as others landed. Had he missed Ospar?

No, there he was, casually strolling alone among the craft.Relief washed through Rivek. It was swiftly chased by seldom-felt anger.

“Ospar!” He raced forward, unmindful of how ridiculous atemple priest would look running toward his clanmate, robes flapping wildly inhis wake.

Ospar turned. He gaped at Rivek, then a guilty flush creptfrom his neck to his face. The expression disappeared in a twinkling, replacedby the charming smile that came so naturally to his handsome, square-jawedface.

“Isn’t this a surprise? How nice to meet up—”

“Are you insane? Were you actually having lunch with Oiteil,where everyone could see you?” Rivek’s voice was low, but it rumbled asthreateningly as their Nobek’s did when he was angry.

Ospar’s easy smile faltered only an instant, then itreturned in full. “It’s no big deal. He finally has the votes to reinstate meto political life. He’ll be putting it to the council and Imperial Clan at thenext general meeting. Congratulate me, my Imdiko.”

“I’ll toss you off the cliff first. How can you be sostupid?”

Ospar took a step back, his eyes wide. Rivek rarely lost histemper. His entire clan could probably count the times he had on one hand.“Hey. Calm down, okay? I have to get up to speed so as soon as my sentence isoverturned, I’ll be ready to serve. Rivek, it’s all right.”

Rivek forced his unaccustomed fury aside in favor of hisusual control. “It isn’t all right, and you know it, Ospar. It doesn’t matterif Oiteil has the support of the entire Royal Council and the Imperial Clan.Until they vote to overturn your permanent suspension, until the officialdecision is handed down, being in the councilman’s company is enough to landyou in major trouble.”

“Next week! No one’s going to prosecute me for breaking theterms of my sentence for meeting Oiteil mere days before I’m reinstated aseligible for office.”

“Because you’ll adhere to the terms until you are eligiblebeyond all doubt.” Rivek preferred to use logic tempered by compassion to makehis arguments, but the stubborn light was in Ospar’s eyes…and no one was morestubborn than Rivek’s Dramok.

Beyond Rivek’s concern for Ospar was the well-being of theirMatara and children. For them, he stepped inches from Ospar, whom he stoodtaller than by five inches and outmuscled by thirty pounds. His clanmate’ssudden expression of alarm gave Rivek no pleasure. Indeed, it sickened him. Butif it succeeded in scaring Ospar into reasonable behavior, Rivek would do so.

“I mean it, Ospar. If I hear any hint you’ve done somethingthat could land you in a prison camp, I’ll chain you to a wall in the deepestchambers of the temple, where no one will find you.”

Ospar recovered his bluster. “You’re forgetting who the clanleader is.”

“I forget nothing. Especially the fact we would have lostyou to a possible life sentence if Imperial Father Yuder hadn’t assumedresponsibility for your crimes. Yes, crimes, Ospar. Tell yourself allthe lies you wish, the lies that say you did no wrong, but what you did damnednear tore our clan apart.”

Ospar gaped. Hurt pinched his features. “You regard me as acriminal, my Imdiko?”

The last of Rivek’s anger drained, revealing its source:fear. Fear of losing his impetuous clanmate, of raising their children withoutthe greatest source of the family’s fun-loving energy. Fear of a life lackingOspar in it.

“I see you as a man driven to do good to the point hebecomes reckless. Honestly, Ospar, if you saw a man falling from a cliff, you’dtrample dozens of innocent victims to catch him.”

“I…I don’t mean to…I need this. I feel like I dieevery second of the day I’m unable to help my empire. I can’t change who I am.”There was a catch in his voice, a sad pleading Rivek had never heard before. Itbroke his heart to see Ospar reduced so greatly.

He grasped his clanmate’s shoulders. “I wouldn’t change youfor the world, my Dramok. I’ve never known anyone so ready to throw caution tothe wind so he could be a force for those who need his help. I admire you forit, I truly do. But you have to think of those who depend on you. Call yourchildren’s faces to your mind: Thomas, Umpev, and Mira. If you’re so certainOiteil will make it happen, can’t you wait a few days for the vote for yourchildren’s sakes? Just a few days?”

“When you put it like that, I feel stupid. Ashamed.” Ospar’shead hung. “You’re right. I’m an ass.”

Had Jol been there, he would have agreed. Their Nobek hadlittle patience for foolishness, though he knew Ospar’s difficulty inrestraining rash impulses as well as Rivek did.

Rivek was no Jol. He saw what was in Ospar’s heart andcelebrated it despite his Dramok’s tendency to get in trouble. “You care deeplyfor our society. There’s nothing wrong with that. You simply concentrate on thebig picture so much, you forget the details.”

“I shouldn’t when the details are my clan and family.Thank you for reminding me. And for not throwing me off the cliff.”

Rivek chuckled at the weak attempt at humor. He hugged Osparwithout restraint. “The safety nets would have caught you. Besides, I couldn’tstand to lose you for a second.”

* * **

* * **

Blythe Nelson is certain Clan Deram is keepingsomething from her. The clan of spies finds it difficult to stay a step aheadof the wily reporter who’s winning their hearts. What they don’t know is Blythehas a secret of her own. New love can’t survive without trust, and neither sideis ready when the truth comes out.

Dramok Ospar, determined to return to the politicalstage, strikes up a deal with Royal Councilman Oiteil. Unaware he’s dealingwith a Dark entity controlling Oiteil, he finds himself fighting for his honor,his relationship with his clan…and his life.

The Kalquorian Empire, already struggling against theDarks infiltrating its highest offices, suffers a new blow when it’s revealedit’s keeping a prisoner from the war against the first Earth: Holy LeaderBrowning Copeland. The schism between Kalquor and its allies grows deeper,setting the empire against the rest of the galaxy.

As chaos descends on rioting Earther colonies, theGalactic Council of Planets, and Kalquor, a desperate group of humans andKalquorians race to stop the force behind the turmoil: the Darks. Can theyloosen the grip on their worlds the enemy seeks to tighten, or is all lost?

Now on sale!

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print

 

Dark Empire Book Four: Revelations - Chapter Five Scene Four

 

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print

Ospar caught behaving badly.

* * **

Master Rivek of the Temple of Life smiled serenely at thosein the crowded eatery in his path, and they obligingly stepped out of his way.They executed slight bows of respect as they did so. What some accomplishedthrough intimidation, Rivek performed with serenity.

Not that he couldn’t have put most of them, including theNobeks, on the floor. Rivek had a host of perfected martial arts moves at hiscommand. However, the Imdiko priest’s motivations were ever peaceful. If he’dbeen forced to defend himself or his loved ones, he’d do so without antipathy.

A dozen fellow priests followed in his wake as they swept tothe table reserved for them, their layered robes fluttering. Once a month, theygave the temple’s kitchen a break and took their midday meal in public.

They circled their low table and sank to the billowingseating cushions surrounding it. Knee- and ankle-length hair spread around themin black or graying waterfalls. Sedate smiles greeted the pair of waiters whodescended on them to take their drink orders and enthuse about the featureddishes of the day.

The restaurant was one they enjoyed; Rivek particularly so.He tucked the slender braids twisting the strands at his temples behind hisears and glanced toward where the cliff facility opened to the ocean and skybeyond. Brine-tinted breezes wafted to him, and he inhaled their aroma in thesame appreciation as the mouthwatering food other diners enjoyed.

After they’d given their orders, Master Copin, a youngerpriest whom Rivek had known for years, smiled at his mentor. “It feels longerthan a month since we gathered like this. How is the family?”

“Well, but you’ve seen Thomas recently, haven’t you?”

“A few days ago.” Copin’s eyes twinkled. “I’m no longer hisfavorite companion when he visits the temple, however.”

“Katie, daughter of Clan Trebro, has all his attention,”Rivek sighed. “Adolescent hormones have hit my oldest son hard. Fortunately,she isn’t as romantically inclined as he is. And she distracts him from hisvideo games for an hour or so each day.”

“He’s good for her. Her tantrums are less when he’s around.”

Like Thomas, Katie was autistic. Her coping skills when shefelt overwhelmed were less well-managed than Rivek’s son’s, but as Copin hadpointed out, she made an effort in Thomas’ presence. For his part, Thomas hadexhibited astonishing patience for her occasional profanity-lacedoutbursts…patience he didn’t always afford his own family.

“They help each other,” Rivek chuckled.

“It’s good Thomas requires less supervision than he used to.No doubt Iris has her hands full with the younger children and teaching.”

“Fortunately, Ospar’s usually home to help.” As the wordsleft his mouth, Rivek experienced a pang for his Dramok.

It was clear Ospar was unhappy. He loved his clan andchildren, and he kept himself busy, but it wasn’t the work he’d been born todo. Rivek feared the hope Councilman Oiteil offered wouldn’t materialize. Hefeared when it was gone, Ospar would sink into depression or bitterness.

It was difficult to keep from counseling Ospar to ignoreOiteil. His clan leader was treading a narrow rope over a chasm of trouble.Rivek knew Ospar’s heart, however. Reminding him he could end up in a prisoncamp if he were discovered to be poking his nose in politics wouldn’t stop himfrom doing so. He’d merely hide his activities from Rivek and their clanmates.

“Any guesses on what teams will make it to the playoffs?”Master Rofol called to the table as their food arrived.

Grateful for the distraction, Rivek dove into kurblestatistics, the latest trades, and the Earther leagues that had erupted onHaven and Earth II, though football remained the humans’ contact sport ofchoice. For the rest of the lunch, he was happily diverted from the fewconcerns in his life.

They were rising from the table when he spotted a couple offamiliar faces in the crowd heading for the exit.

Ospar and Oiteil. In public together. Openly chatting, as ifit wouldn’t get Rivek’s Dramok hauled straight to a judge.

* * **

Blythe Nelson is certain Clan Deram is keepingsomething from her. The clan of spies finds it difficult to stay a step aheadof the wily reporter who’s winning their hearts. What they don’t know is Blythehas a secret of her own. New love can’t survive without trust, and neither sideis ready when the truth comes out.

Dramok Ospar, determined to return to the politicalstage, strikes up a deal with Royal Councilman Oiteil. Unaware he’s dealingwith a Dark entity controlling Oiteil, he finds himself fighting for his honor,his relationship with his clan…and his life.

The Kalquorian Empire, already struggling against theDarks infiltrating its highest offices, suffers a new blow when it’s revealedit’s keeping a prisoner from the war against the first Earth: Holy LeaderBrowning Copeland. The schism between Kalquor and its allies grows deeper,setting the empire against the rest of the galaxy.

As chaos descends on rioting Earther colonies, theGalactic Council of Planets, and Kalquor, a desperate group of humans andKalquorians race to stop the force behind the turmoil: the Darks. Can theyloosen the grip on their worlds the enemy seeks to tighten, or is all lost?

Now on sale!

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print

 

 

Now On Sale - Dark Empire Book Four: Revelations - Chapter Five, Scene Three

 

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print

The Darks' endgame is heating up. No one can be trusted now...including longtime allies.

* * **

Kalquor

Had Tranis not been so on edge, he might have been amused atthe naturalness of Borey Nath’s bow when the admiral and Lidon entered thehuman’s office. The stocky black-haired man had picked up a number ofKalquorian habits and gestures since his arrival five years prior.

His office was in the underground secret prison FleetHeadquarters maintained on a seemingly uninhabited island in the middle of theocean. It was stark, all business. No personal mementos decorated the space.

It was an indication of Nath’s formidable nature as aone-time top general and foe to the Kalquorian Empire. The former chief of oldEarth’s forces during the Earth-Kalquorian war wasn’t a man to take lightly.While commanding his world’s forces, he’d also been hard at work behind thescenes to unseat Browning Copeland, a mission he’d continued when the HolyLeader had escaped to continue fighting the empire at the side of the Basma,Kalquor’s infamous traitor.

Borey Nath was a brilliant tactician and bold warrior, buthe was also a man of honor and conscience. Tranis was grateful they’d ended upon the same side.

“Admiral Tranis. And Agent Lidon, I believe?” The corners ofNath’s angular eyes, so similar to his daughter Hope’s, crinkled pleasantly ashe acknowledged their return bows.

Lidon grinned. “It’s a pleasure to finally make youracquaintance, sir. I studied your tactics against our destroyers during the warand was greatly impressed.”

“You flatter me. I have no doubt the clanmate and formerweapons commander of Admiral Tranis was nothing short of a tactical masterhimself.” He beamed at both men and waved his hand at the hover chairs in frontof his desk. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit?”

“No pleasure, I’m afraid,” Tranis said as he took a seat.Lidon, behaving like a typical Nobek, remained standing.

Borey paled. “My daughter—?”

“Matara Hope is well,” Tranis hurried to assure him. “Infact, she’s on Kalquor and eager to see you. Can you join us for dinner in myhome this evening?”

“Absolutely.” A smile flashed on his tanned face before hesobered. He sat on the edge of his desk. “But you said this isn’t a meeting ofa happy nature.”

“Someone leaked Copeland’s presence here to a reporter byway of vid footage.”

Nath stilled. No, he froze. Tranis was relieved at thereaction, though he’d never for a second suspected the man’s integrity.

“How? Who? You know yourself the guards here have impeccablecredentials.” In the wake of shock came fury, seldom witnessed from a manrecognized for his equanimity.

“Those are the questions we need to answer. Let me showyou.”

Nath’s lips were nearly white from the pressure he exertedpressing them together as he viewed the footage. When it was over, he snapped,“Timestamp?”

Tranis gave it to him. He leaned close, as did Lidon, whileNath brought up security records on his computer. They viewed the vid heplayed.

“You can see the guard recording Copeland,” Lidon said.

“Nobek Semnar. He’s among the best of our security. Icouldn’t ask for a more discreet, reliable guard. Why would he do such athing?” Nath stared at the bearded Nobek on the vid, his confused angerobvious.

Tranis glanced at Lidon. The Nobek’s nod wasuncharacteristically hesitant. It meant he thought he saw the shadow ofa Dark on the guard but wasn’t certain. His ability to spot them wasn’t asdependable as others.

“I have a suspicion about the why,” Tranis said. “Send me acopy, General.”

Nath did so, and Tranis forwarded it on an emergency securechannel to Piras’ Imdiko Lokmi. Seconds later, the engineering geniusresponded.

“Admiral, the man has a Dark riding him. I take it that’swhat you wanted confirmed?”

“Affirmative. Thank you, Chief.”

“What’s going on, Admiral?” Nath wasn’t demanding an answer,but it was close.

“Before I answer you, when was the last time you spoke toNobek Semnar?”

“This morning, as I came on shift. He was leaving.”

“Did he sound strange?”

“No.” Nath hesitated. “No, he sounded fine.”

“You heard no auditory oddness? Like his voice doubling?”

“Nothing of the sort.”

“It’s just the women, as we thought,” Lidon murmured.

“But you noted something was unusual,” Tranis pressed Nath,having caught a note of uncertainty in his tone. “He sounded fine, but hewas…off. A sort of distance to his demeanor, but nothing you could quite putyour finger on?”

Nath gazed at him in surprise. “How did you know? For abouta week, he’s been…well, not to sound crazy, but being around Semnar makes myskin crawl. He says the right things, acts the same, but…”

“It feels as if he hates you,” Lidon finished.

Nath looked from Dramok to Nobek and back. “What’s thisabout, Admiral?”

Tranis told him.

* * **

Blythe Nelson is certain Clan Deram is keepingsomething from her. The clan of spies finds it difficult to stay a step aheadof the wily reporter who’s winning their hearts. What they don’t know is Blythehas a secret of her own. New love can’t survive without trust, and neither sideis ready when the truth comes out.

Dramok Ospar, determined to return to the politicalstage, strikes up a deal with Royal Councilman Oiteil. Unaware he’s dealingwith a Dark entity controlling Oiteil, he finds himself fighting for his honor,his relationship with his clan…and his life.

The Kalquorian Empire, already struggling against theDarks infiltrating its highest offices, suffers a new blow when it’s revealedit’s keeping a prisoner from the war against the first Earth: Holy LeaderBrowning Copeland. The schism between Kalquor and its allies grows deeper,setting the empire against the rest of the galaxy.

As chaos descends on rioting Earther colonies, theGalactic Council of Planets, and Kalquor, a desperate group of humans andKalquorians race to stop the force behind the turmoil: the Darks. Can theyloosen the grip on their worlds the enemy seeks to tighten, or is all lost?

Now on sale!

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print

 

On Sale Now - Dark Empire Book Four: Revelations

 

  It's on sale! The latest tale as the Darks move ever closer to grabbing control over the Galactic Council and the Kalquorian Empire. Who will survive?

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print

 

* * **

Nobek Kuran tried to keep frustration from his tone as hereported in to Admiral Piras via audio-only com, but he was aware he wasn’tquite successful. “I managed to alter most of the vid Matara Nelson was sent tomake it appear fake, but she arrived for work before I could finish the job.She sent it elsewhere for verification.”

Piras growled, but he didn’t go into one of his famousmeltdowns. “How much is intact?”

“About thirty percent. All at the end of the footage.”

“That’s significant. Who did she send it to?”

If anything was to set off his superior, it would be Kuran’slack of intel. “Unknown, sir. She used an earpiece equipped with blocking techso I couldn’t listen in or record her communication. What’s more, thetransmission point was a self-terminating temporary link. Whoever she wastalking to, someone she identified as ‘Rob,’ didn’t want to be found out. Itcould have been on Earth or any number of places.”

“That woman! First she gets hold of the lieutenantgovernor’s old Earth codes, then she researches on Speaker Mitchell’s behalf—”Piras’ eyes suddenly widened. “She’s working for someone else. The news bureauis a front for whatever she’s up to.”

Kuran blinked at the leap the admiral had taken. “Do youthink so?”

“It’s only a hunch, but I’d bet a year’s pay I’m right.”Piras snorted. “She’d make an excellent spy for the department, wouldn’t she?Too bad someone else already hired her. Get an agent on it to see if mysuspicions are correct. Who’s assigned to her? Selt?”

Kuran cleared his throat. “His clan has become…attached toher. When Speaker Mitchell’s threat to her was nullified, I removed thesurveillance.”

He was certain the stretch of silence meant an explosionwould follow. Instead, Piras chuckled.

“Kalquorian men are constantly tripped up by Earther women.They never fail to entrance us. She’s no doubt trying to use Clan Deram for herown goals.”

“If you believe the relationship poses danger to ourdivision—”

“If it were any clan besides Deram’s, I’d peel your hide offfor not shipping them elsewhere. I know those men well, however, since theyserved on Kila’s spyship. I trust them to keep personal pursuits andprofessional secrecy far apart. Nonetheless, put another operative on MataraNelson’s case…and don’t inform Clan Deram you’ve done so.”

“Understood.” Kuran switched topics before he could get onthe wrong side of Piras’ temper. “How is your assignment going? Is thereanything I need to be aware of to do my job here?”

“Tell the governor to listen for people who speak in doubledvoices. Earther women can detect the Dark riders on an auditory level. HasHadlez begun testing our men for the ability to spot them?”

“Yes, sir. He hopes to have results on the brain scans in aday or two.”

“Excellent. I’m sending you footage of Admiral Hobato whenhe was under the enemy’s influence. Those sensitive to Darks can detect themvia vid as well as in person.”

“That’ll simplify things.”

“I certainly hope so.” Piras suddenly sounded worn. “We’recontinuing to keep this quiet for now, because we have a situation. Somemembers of the Royal Council are compromised. We’ll soon be ready to attempttrapping their riders, and we don’t want them to realize we’re on to them. Mostespecially maintain silence if the Galactic Council contacts Alpha Station orEarth.”

The hairs rose on the back of Kuran’s neck. The creatureshad penetrated the GC? He steeled his tone to avoid betraying his alarm. “Goodluck, Admiral.”

“I’m afraid we’ll need it.”

* * **

Blythe Nelson is certain Clan Deram is keepingsomething from her. The clan of spies finds it difficult to stay a step aheadof the wily reporter who’s winning their hearts. What they don’t know is Blythehas a secret of her own. New love can’t survive without trust, and neither sideis ready when the truth comes out.

Dramok Ospar, determined to return to the politicalstage, strikes up a deal with Royal Councilman Oiteil. Unaware he’s dealingwith a Dark entity controlling Oiteil, he finds himself fighting for his honor,his relationship with his clan…and his life.

The Kalquorian Empire, already struggling against theDarks infiltrating its highest offices, suffers a new blow when it’s revealedit’s keeping a prisoner from the war against the first Earth: Holy LeaderBrowning Copeland. The schism between Kalquor and its allies grows deeper,setting the empire against the rest of the galaxy.

As chaos descends on rioting Earther colonies, theGalactic Council of Planets, and Kalquor, a desperate group of humans andKalquorians race to stop the force behind the turmoil: the Darks. Can theyloosen the grip on their worlds the enemy seeks to tighten, or is all lost?

Now on sale!

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print

 

Releasing Tomorrow! Dark Empire Four: Revelations - Chapter Five, Scene One

 

We're almost there. Just one more day.

Blythe makes one last attempt to keep Earth from Kalquor's throat. You gotta give her points for not running with the big story.

* * * *

Earth II

Blythe rewatched the footage of Copeland for the third timein as many minutes. Thus far, she hadn’t brought it to her supervisor. She hadno reason to delay doing so any longer than she had, but every instance shethought she was ready, a vision of Clan Deram interrupted her.

They’d said they were fine with her doing her job. Shebelieved them. The fact remained, she was seeing them under false pretenses.Worse still, exposing Copeland’s survival could drive a wedge between Earth andKalquor…Kalquor and the entire Galactic Council membership, no less. Thus, itcould drive a wedge between her and the men she felt entirely too much for.

It wasn’t supposed to get this far. She’d learned thehard way close relationships were to be avoided. Her father’s death during theEarth-Kalquor war had brought regret and relief in equal measures. Her motherhad found it easy to toss her aside when Blythe rejected her plan for them to moveto Mercy Colony.

No, she disowned me because I turned my back on Earth’shideous religion and those who blindly followed it. Blythe had known hermother was among those who thought the sun rose and set simply because the HolyLeader willed it. She hadn’t expected her to cut her one and only child offcompletely, however.

Blythe’s stomach ached. For an instant, her view of Copelandblurred. Then fury took hold. You bastard. I hope the Kalquorians do haveyou. I hope they’ve tortured you and your life has been a living hell.

It suddenly seemed imperative to prove he’d suffered. That,more than the desire to be absolutely sure of her story, prompted Blythe tostuff a monitor in her ear and switch on her com. She hit a scrambled frequencyno one would be able to trace. A moment later, it was answered.

“Jedver News First Bureau. Retoft speaking.”

“Hi, Rob.” It was what she called her editor…her realeditor, located in Galactic Council space…in case anyone in the newsroomoverheard her. “It’s Blythe Nelson at Earth’s Global News Bureau.”

“Blythe! Always good to hear from you. How goes purgatory?Do you have something for us?” She could practically hear Retoft rubbing hisscaly hands together in anticipation. He’d held her in high esteem since herinvestigation on Dantovon, to the point he’d drop everything to accommodateher.

“Could be. If it’s legit, it’ll rock the whole damnedsystem.”

“Really? Keep talking.”

“I’ll do better. I’ll send you what I received from ananonymous source. My analysis says it’s legit beyond reasonable doubt, but Ineed you to inspect the vid footage. Take it apart and test it until itscreams.”

“Authentication is our calling card. Transmitting thechannel for you to send it through.”

She did so, smiling slightly. The route the vid would taketo reach Jedver News First was one-use. It blinked off the instant the footagearrived on Retoft’s computer, never to be seen again.

“Got it. I’ll let you know as soon as we debunk or confirm.”The glee in his tone changed to concern. “Are you okay? It isn’t too awfulthere among the Earthtiques, is it?”

“No worse than anywhere else I’ve been.” That was true, evenif her personal situation confused the hell out of her. “Make it quick on thevid, okay? If it’s the real deal, serious shit you haven’t seen since Kalquor’scivil war is about to go down.”

“Will do. Take care.”

* * **

* * **

Blythe Nelson is certain Clan Deram is keepingsomething from her. The clan of spies finds it difficult to stay a step aheadof the wily reporter who’s winning their hearts. What they don’t know is Blythehas a secret of her own. New love can’t survive without trust, and neither sideis ready when the truth comes out.

Dramok Ospar, determined to return to the politicalstage, strikes up a deal with Royal Councilman Oiteil. Unaware he’s dealingwith a Dark entity controlling Oiteil, he finds himself fighting for his honor,his relationship with his clan…and his life.

The Kalquorian Empire, already struggling against theDarks infiltrating its highest offices, suffers a new blow when it’s revealedit’s keeping a prisoner from the war against the first Earth: Holy LeaderBrowning Copeland. The schism between Kalquor and its allies grows deeper,setting the empire against the rest of the galaxy.

As chaos descends on rioting Earther colonies, theGalactic Council of Planets, and Kalquor, a desperate group of humans andKalquorians race to stop the force behind the turmoil: the Darks. Can theyloosen the grip on their worlds the enemy seeks to tighten, or is all lost?

Releasing March 29. Pre-order ebook or buy print now:

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print

 

Dark Empire Book Four: Revelations - Chapter Four, Scene Six

 

Is it really out day after tomorrow? Woot!

Meanwhile, this bunch...they're trying, but the secrets continue.

* * * * 

Later, close to dawn, Deram propped himself on an elbow andregarded Blythe, who stretched next to him. “Tonight was incredible. There weretimes, however, when you started to draw away from us.”

She blinked up at him. A kind of torment made her appearwaiflike, a lost child instead of a fully grown, desirable woman. Her gazeflicked to Selt. His Nobek sat cross-legged behind Hadlez, who curled at herback.

Reluctance colored Blythe’s voice. “The day I said I’d giveKalquor is almost up. I have to report on the vid I was sent of BrowningCopeland.”

“The proper authorities have been warned.”

Her concern relaxed at his non-accusatory tone. “They’llprobably try to discredit the footage. Or me. Meanwhile, I’ll do my damnedestto prove whether or not the empire has kept Copeland secretly imprisonedwithout benefit of a trial before the Galactic Council.”

Selt smiled. “Of course you will. It’s your job.”

“Are you afraid we’ll hold it against you?” Deram strokedher cheek, marveling at its softness. Marveling at her. He wondered what itwould take to earn her complete confidence.

“If it’s true…and my gut tells me it is…I’ll keep on thestory. It won’t put us at odds?” Her worried glance darted between them.

She deserved proof she could trust them. They were spies,however, watching her government on the behalf of theirs. How could Deram giveher what she needed when his work kept the clan from doing so?

He swallowed and forced a smile. “We understand you have todo what’s expected of you and what you feel is right. We can’t keep you fromdoing so, so we won’t.”

His gaze met Selt’s, and he saw his torment reflected there.

* * **

Blythe Nelson is certain Clan Deram is keepingsomething from her. The clan of spies finds it difficult to stay a step aheadof the wily reporter who’s winning their hearts. What they don’t know is Blythehas a secret of her own. New love can’t survive without trust, and neither sideis ready when the truth comes out.

Dramok Ospar, determined to return to the politicalstage, strikes up a deal with Royal Councilman Oiteil. Unaware he’s dealingwith a Dark entity controlling Oiteil, he finds himself fighting for his honor,his relationship with his clan…and his life.

The Kalquorian Empire, already struggling against theDarks infiltrating its highest offices, suffers a new blow when it’s revealedit’s keeping a prisoner from the war against the first Earth: Holy LeaderBrowning Copeland. The schism between Kalquor and its allies grows deeper,setting the empire against the rest of the galaxy.

As chaos descends on rioting Earther colonies, theGalactic Council of Planets, and Kalquor, a desperate group of humans andKalquorians race to stop the force behind the turmoil: the Darks. Can theyloosen the grip on their worlds the enemy seeks to tighten, or is all lost?

Releasing March 29. Pre-order ebook or buy print now:

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print

 

Dark Empire Four: Revelations - Chapter Four, Scene Five

 

  With only three days until Revelations comes out, it's time to heat things WAY up. No mere "Tuesday Tease" today. Tell everyone it's alone time, grab the beverage of your choice, snuggle in, and join Blythe and Clan Deram in this lengthy scene of decadent pleasure.
* * * *

Alpha Space Station

Blythe’s eyelids fluttered. Her thoughts were far fromBrowning Copeland, from keeping secrets from the men she’d begun to fear shewas falling in love with, from anything but those very men and what they weredoing to her.

She lay on the bed, or sleeping mat, as the Kalquorianscalled it. They were once again in a rented room. Selt had put in for her banon the private living level to be lifted, and they were waiting for the stationmaster’s decision.

Meanwhile, she was surrounded by Clan Deram. On either sideof her lay Selt and lovely Hadlez, a pair of delicious walls hemming her in.They were engaged in rubbing her breasts. Between her spread legs was Deram,his stunning features hovering over her wet sex.

The Dramok watched her face as he stroked the path betweenher pussy lips. She gasped at the exquisite sensation but managed to holdstill, as she’d been ordered to.

I can, as long as he doesn’t touch my—

Deram’s calloused fingertip caressed the tip of her clit.She squeaked, and her hips gave a small, involuntary jerk.

Maybe it had been too slight a movement for him to punishher. Or maybe he was in a generous mood. In any event, he chuckled rather thanreprimanded her.

“Too much? Gentler contact then.”

His lips surrounded her clit, sending warmth through her.His tongue, almost as abrading as his finger, swirled around the tiny shaft.She moaned as she melted. Her hips twitched, and he rested his forearm on herlower abdomen, holding her down as he continued to taste.

“Close your eyes,” Hadlez whispered.

She did so. Feeling became her world as Deram continued toswirl his tongue around her clit, as his clanmates massaged her breasts andplucked her nipples. Yearning built high, leaving her gasping.

Deram pushed a finger in her greedy sex, sliding deep,rubbing where sensation doubled the excitement of his mouth on her. Anindescribable yearning filled her, psychological and physical. He strokedslowly, lingeringly, and her pussy clutched his finger, begging for more. Whathe held back in speed, he made up for in accuracy, pressing on that specialspot inside, his tongue teasing her clit free of its hood.

Blythe stopped breathing, her body straining, a millimeterfrom crescendo. So close…

Then Deram pressed her hotspot harder. His tongue lapped,applying demanding pressure. Blythe detonated. Surges of purest pleasuredemolished her, and she screamed as electric shocks sizzled up and down herspine.

She was nowhere near done when he and the others turned herover, setting her on hands and knees. The Dramok’s strong hands held her hipshigh. The next instant, his primary shoved in her womanhood, stretching herengorged flesh, forcing her to yield to the thick intruder.

Incredible ecstasy overwhelmed the instant of achingdiscomfort. He drove deep, his secondary rubbing her clit as he had her,setting off a fresh round of violent pulses.

Her fists twisted the covers. Hadlez and Selt resumedplaying with her breasts. She was aware of their intent gazes, of them watchingas she gasped her release. Over it all was the steady slapping of Deram’s fleshon hers, of his iron cock plumbing her depths again and again.

When her moans grew throatier, warning of renewed orgasm, heslowed. He withdrew so only the tapered tip of him remained in her spasmingwarmth. She strained to shove onto him, to claim the sweet bliss once more.

“In a moment,” he murmured, patting her ass. More thanpatting. It was a firm, stinging reminder of who was in charge.

Only when impending climax had retreated did he move. Heplunged deep, his rhythm quick. Blythe panted, desperate whimpers punctuatingeach thrust, but she held still for him.

“Good girl,” he praised, and her heart warmed to hear hisapproval. “You may come for me now.”

His fingers slid over her mound and found her swollen clit.Her cries rang through the room as he fondled her to completion.

He rutted her hard, extending her rapture. At last, havingmade sure of her gratification, he released. He groaned as his cock jerked,emptying his passion in her depths.

Often, whoever had fucked her would roll them onto the mat,curling her into his warmth as she drifted in the soft pleasure of post-orgasm.However, Deram was the first of her lovers to claim her that night. Despitelooking forward to Selt’s and Hadlez’s attentions, Blythe whimpered a protestwhen Deram pulled free, leaving her empty.

“Greedy girl,” Selt chuckled, his cocks sticking straightfrom his well-muscled frame. “Don’t worry. Hadlez will make you sing a new songfor us.”

“Thank you, my Nobek.” The beauty of the trio was delightedto not have to wait for his turn.

He picked her up and set her on her feet next to the bed.His careful grasp of Blythe’s dainty wrist said he knew how careful he had tobe. “The smallest of restraints are still almost too big for you.”

She shivered as he drew the soft cuff tight while carefullyavoiding affecting her circulation. The clan’s Imdiko, Hadlez was the gentlestof the trio. It didn’t mean he wasn’t dominating, nor that he wouldn’t spankher soundly if she misbehaved. Perhaps he wasn’t as controlling as Deram or asdemanding as Selt, but his was an alpha personality nonetheless.

A thread of anxiety ran through her as he cuffed her otherwrist and secured it to its mate behind her back. Far from quelling the arousalthat had no off switch in Clan Deram’s presence, her nervousness fed it.

Hadlez’s warm palms rubbed her shoulders. “Is it okay? Nostrain?”

“It’s okay.” Because she couldn’t help herself, she tuggedat the restraints. Naturally, they held. She was helpless against Hadlez andhis clanmates, should they decide to join in. Vulnerable to them using her bodyin any way they wished.

Her pussy, still warm from the orgasms Deram had woken,clenched. She enjoyed her inability to defend herself from these men…probablybecause they’d never harmed her. They only gave her what they’d learned shefound exciting. Even the carnal acts she wasn’t entirely comfortable with.

Especially the carnal acts that made heruncomfortable.

She licked her lips and peered up at Hadlez. His smile wasslight and gaze piercing, as if he could read her thoughts. “Nowhere to go.Mine for the taking.”

His arm circled her as he spoke. Despite the potentiallyfrightening words he’d spoken, his embrace comforted her. He felt warm andsafe, a shelter able to survive any storm. As if discerning the ramblings ofher mind, he set his fingers under her chin, lifting her lips to his for akiss. Her insides tumbled at his gentleness, so at odds with the cuffs hereminded her she wore by gripping her imprisoned wrists in his huge hand. Sheswayed closer to him.

Hadlez’s kiss deepened, became forceful. Even as she openedto his tongue sweeping in her mouth, her arms twisted, seeking escape.

There was none.

He finished, leaving her lips feeling swollen and bruised.He stepped back…such an intense, scary stare for such a gorgeous creation…andeyed her. His demeanor gave the impression of a man inspecting his property.Blythe wanted to bristle at the attitude. Instead, she trembled in eagerness toearn his approval.

His demanding gaze went to her chest. She was small up top,as befitted her slight frame, but she never failed to wish for a moreimpressive bust. It rarely mattered the men often told her how much theyenjoyed her breasts.

What she lacked in size, she made up for in sensitivity.Hadlez cupped her breast, and she went up on her toes as the contact sizzledstraight to her clit. He chuckled and stroked both, his expression pleased. Histhumbs orbited her areolas. She quivered in reaction as he coaxed her nipplesto tighten, then gasped when he tugged on them. Her pussy echoed the pleasureof his touch.

He bent, and she inhaled sharply when he sucked the entiretyof her breast into his maw. His tongue circled her nipple, then flicked ituntil she came up on her toes again. He held her prisoner for his attentions,his hands gripping her upper arms. Wetness slid to her inner thighs.

He released her, sucking hard all the way. His mouthrendered a slight pop as he released her. He inspected her reddenedmound and distended nipple, satisfaction giving him a gloating expression.

He swung his long hair forward, and Blythe noticed a coupleof glittering objects clipped to the black curtain. He removed one, a metalclothespin-looking device tipped by white-cushioned ends.

Had it been on Blythe’s mind to protest, she wouldn’t havehad time. Hadlez clamped her nipple faster than her eyes could follow hismovements.

She felt the barest pinching pressure. Nothing to worryover, but experience with Clan Deram had taught her the reprieve was temporary.

“Breathe, sweetling,” Hadlez admonished mildly. “It’s easierif you breathe nice and steady.”

He tightened a screw on the clamp. He was slow and careful,watching her face as he did so. When the pressure sent a sliver of pain wherethe clamp trapped her nipple, she whimpered.

“Keep breathing.”

Fortunately, the hurt was diminishing. Her nipple pulsed.Hadlez brushed a fingertip over it, and sensation walloped her, from breast andclit equally. She groaned and thrust her chest forward.

“Good girl. Now for the other.”

The second brought the sting of tears. Hadlez murmuredencouragement until arousal made her pussy ache. Her inner thighs weredefinitely wet now.

His fingers combed through her shoulder-length hair, thenreturned to her scalp. He gripped her strands and pulled her head back so shehad no choice but to stare in his cat-pupiled eyes.

There was a pulling on her breast clamp, and Blythe criedout at the stab of anguish. She jerked at the cuffs holding her prisonerinstinctively. At the same instant, her feet shifted to widen her legs.Helplessness crashed over her. Her pussy throbbed unrepentant, eager to befilled by her captor.

“That’s it. Offer yourself to me.” Another tug. Anotherheady rush of pain. When her mouth opened to express the intoxicating swirl ofhurt and bliss, he kissed her deeply. Her entire body heated.

He took a clamp off. They hadn’t been on long enough toaffect her circulation much, but her nipple clamored complaint anyway. Blythepanted until she remembered to breathe through the pain.

No sooner had the throbbing become manageable when Hadlezreached for the second clamp. Blythe couldn’t help but attempt to twist away.He had hold of her hair, however, so she barely budged. He chuffed laughter ashe removed the clamp.

She danced on her toes a couple of steps as torment bloomed.She barely noticed Hadlez lifting her onto the bed and laying her on itssurface.

He unbuckled the cuffs from each other. The rented room hadbeen chosen for its selection of places where one could be restrained. Clamps,chains, and cords studded the bed’s headboard, footboard, and walls.

Hadlez secured the cuffs to the headboard’s cords, spreadingher arms wide. The pose flattened what scant chest she had, but her fiercelypink nipples jutted toward the ceiling.

He located a strap attached to the boards framing the matand stretched it over her torso, just beneath her breasts. He went to theopposite side and found another strap. He adjusted their lengths and buckledthem together. His fingers ran beneath them, checking them for tightness. “Deepbreath.”

She obeyed.

“Good.” He caressed her nipples, and she tried to arch atthe incredible intensity of sensation. The strap kept her from doing so. Hadlezgrinned and plucked, then pinched the fuchsia peaks until she squirmed andsquealed.

Deep chuckles from the corners reminded her Deram and Seltwere there. Despite her undercover prostitution gig on Dantovon and herprevious activities with the clan, she hadn’t quite gotten used to beingwatched while having sex. It was among those uncomfortable situations herpsyche somehow deemed erotic.

Hadlez cuffed her ankles as he had her wrists and spread herwide, binding her to the corners of the footboard chains. They offeredglassy-clinking comments on her straining against them. She felt dizzy.

Hadlez stroked her pussy mound, then lower to her slit. Heatflared from his touch. When she moaned and rocked to prolong the contact, hedrew his fingers away.

She hissed in frustration. He laughed at her.

He leaned over her, his lips closing on her lower lip. Helicked it gently, then moved down to kiss her chin, her throat, between herbreasts. His fingers, wet from her excitement, circled her nipple. He licked itclean, then sucked. The pulling of his mouth set her pussy throbbing. Then hebit the livid tip, carefully but hard enough to hurt. Lust stabbed her cunt.

He kissed his way to her other nipple and did the same. Shewrithed as her sex pulsed. She wanted him to touch her there. She wanted him inher.

Thank heavens, he granted her wish. His fingertips minutelyexplored her folds, as if he hadn’t been intimately acquainted with themseveral times already. Her clit, already distended, tightened in anticipation.He swirled around it, teasing. Her body whispered soft sounds on the linens asshe writhed.

He pushed two fingers in her. Slid outward slowly. Pushedagain. He searched for where it felt best, applying friction. She groaned, herhips tilting in welcome.

A third finger. Deram, who was much thicker than Hadlez’sfingers, had fucked her, but her passage was swollen in desire. It clenched onthe invaders, greedy for their girth, feeling how full they made her. Sheuttered a low wail.

“Right there.” Hadlez rubbed ruthlessly, lighting her like afirecracker. Her head tossed from side to side as orgasm considered her butdecided to wait.

A low hum sounded. She thought it was an effect of herrising arousal but learned otherwise when his fingers slipped free andsomething thicker penetrated her. Mild vibrations filled her, applyingdelicious pressure. He stroked in and out a few times before seating it insideand leaving it there.

He returned to her nipples. As he sucked one hard enough tocreate dimples in his cheeks, he plucked the other. A riot of sensations warredfor her attention: the relentless vibrations of the toy in her cunt, the wetpleasure of his lips and tongue, the darts of hurt from his fingers. Breathycries flowed from Blythe as aching yearning overtook her.

She trembled from head to toe as he drifted lower. His palmsrubbed the length of her shins and calves, their warmth somehow sending chillsdown her spine. He stroked her thighs, then licked the inner flesh as hediscovered her wetness there. Long, leisurely laps from his rough tonguedrifted near where she wanted him to taste most. Her trembles turned to quakesas he neared clamoring flesh.

He increased the vibrator’s strength and used it to fuckher, slow and steady. Her pussy convulsed on it, desperate to claim climax. Ithovered beyond reach, a brutal tease. Her legs strained to close, but shecouldn’t move them. She tugged at her arms. No give. No escape. No way to makehim let her come.

“Please,” she moaned between clenched teeth.

“Hush.” His gaze centered on where the toy moved, on hereager pussy as he played with her.

His tone was absolute. She belonged to him to enjoy as hepleased. If she pushed, he might deny her what she needed so desperately.

It seemed an eternity as her body fought for release thatwouldn’t come. Hadlez kept her suspended on the edge, his beautiful faceinscrutable as she suffered for him.

When he eased the vibrator from her frantic flesh, shecouldn’t keep a despairing cry leashed. He swatted her pussy to punish her. Thesting was enthralling, as was the ache of the vibrator pressing in her ass andtraveling deep. She was a hairsbreadth from orgasm, molten heat billowingthrough her. She gasped and jerked in her bonds, but she couldn’t grasprapture.

Hadlez eased the vibrator in her ass and pumped as he hadher pussy. She was quite aware of the brutal pressure there, but her attentionriveted on his mouth hovering near her sex. His breath was balmy warmth. Itseemed her clit strained for contact. She swore she felt it drawing on thesurrounding flesh.

Hadlez’s tongue peeked out. Its tip tapped her clit,granting the slightest pressure. Blythe groaned. She was so damned close.Another tap. Her guts twisted tight. Another tap. She arched.

He pulled the vibrator free and tossed it aside. Hadlezsuddenly loomed, crouching over her as he guided his thick, gleaming cocks toher. Yes, yes, yes, yes—

He took her in a single thrust. Blythe’s insides knotted onefinal time, then exploded. Ecstasy poured through her. Spasms shook her fromhead to toe.

Hadlez rode her brutally. The continuous pounding set heroff again before the first climax ended. She was lost under an avalanche ofraw, violent ecstasy, buffeting from every angle.

Her surroundings returned, matching the pace of her pussysettling in softer spasms. Hadlez moaned softly, his cocks jolting in herstill-clenching passages. They sighed in a chorus as their bodies relaxed.

Selt appeared next to them, water bottles in his hands. AsHadlez sat up, Deram unlocked Blythe’s cuffs from the cords and chains. Hissupernatural Kalquorian speed meant he did so in a couple of seconds.

Selt cuddled Blythe on his lap. He held the bottle he’dbrought for her, appearing indulgently amused as she gulped. Her mind driftedlazily as she did so, still wasted by the aftereffects of intense pleasure.Selt felt warm and safe despite his erections, which pressed against her hip.She should probably be concerned about what they’d soon be doing, but her brainfloated on a sea of satisfaction.

She should have known better.

Selt tossed the empty bottle away. Gripping her securely tohis muscled torso, he reached between her legs and stroked her clit. Only asmall part of her registered his fingertip felt…odd. The rest of her focused onthe profound contact. She tightened everywhere, relaxation banished in aninstant. Her breath caught.

“Hmm. You have energy left for me? Maybe this will beoverkill then.”

His finger vibrated. Blythe jerked, but he held her still ashe rubbed, the fingertip vibrating pad waking what had been a satisfied pussy.She stared at him as she squirmed helplessly in his grip.

“Much like you, it’s small but powerful. Do you like it?”

Her desperate writhing made the biting arousal worse sincehe kept contact and she inadvertently rubbed on it. Her hands slammed hischest, but she might as well as tried to move a mountain.

The cloudiness of her mind was that of excitement ratherthan gratification. Selt drove her crazy when he withdrew contact, crazier whenhe resumed just as she caught her breath. Her heels beat the bed as she kicked.

He chuckled, continuing the cruel cycle of intense pleasureand terrible abandonment. “What’s wrong, lovely? Can’t take what you want?Whereas I can, whenever it suits me…and not a second before.”

She squalled and increased her struggles to escape, thenattempted to force orgasm to claim her by rubbing frantically when he pressedthe vibrator to her clit. Her arms and legs were free, but she couldn’t defendherself from him. His hold on her was laughably casual. His gaze was intense,swallowing hers.

She was his, a mere plaything if he wished her to be. Herinability to work her will in any direction on the man short-circuited hermind. She panted, her ability to speak draining away.

He pressed on her clit, increasing the delicious achecycling her upward. His thumb pushed inside her, penetrating her. He thrust,his vibrating finger drawing circles around her clit. At each invasion, herpussy clenched on him, betraying her eagerness for his possession. He rubbed,the trembling vibrations demanding her surrender.

A spasm swamped her, then a blast of sheer elation racedthrough her body. She wailed at every breath, when each thundering wave boreher under. Through it all was the vision of purple eyes watching, the feelingof him stroking inside and out.

She groaned as the orgasm ebbed. She couldn’t have mounted adefense if her life had depended on it.

“So beautiful,” Selt sighed, peeling the vibe pad from hisfinger. He ran his palms over her chest and plucked her nipples. When shegasped at the flare of interest she’d been sure had been sated, he caught hermouth and kissed her deeply. A warm glow told her that though she wassatisfied, Clan Deram knew how to wake her again and again.

Selt pinched her nipples, and she wriggled as the hurtstampeded to her clit, becoming heated delight along the way. He licked a rosypeak, then his teeth seized it carefully. Her pussy convulsed at the brightshard of hurt, then once more when he did it to the other. Pain was the same aspleasure by now.

“You do like it rough, don’t you?” Selt kissed herdemandingly, as if he’d bruise her lips. She felt herself devoured. He pinchedher swollen nipples as he plundered. A demanding ache announced itself betweenher legs.

When would she ever get enough of these men? Was itpossible?

He moved down to suck her breasts. They tingled at the forceof how he drew on them. She moaned when he nipped clamoring flesh. Each stingwas erotic, waking lust and searing her brain clean of thought. Every inch ofher throbbed in tandem with her quickened pulse. It never failed to shock herhow eager his brutish attentions made her for him.

“Such a good girl,” he murmured. “No demands, my lovely?”

Only that you don’t stop. “Whatever you want,” waswhat she said.

Selt grinned. “What I want covers a lot of ground.”

She knew, and a part of her regretted saying it. A verysmall part, which was overwhelmed when two of his fingers plunged deep in herpussy.

He pounded her, and she caught fire. She arched into hisstrength as excitement rose. He’d found the special spot inside…of course hehad, these incredible Kalquorian fuckers always did…and the friction wasdriving her straight to ecstasy.

Before she could claim it, he stopped. He pulled out topinch her labia lips, adding delicious hurt to enhance her helplessenthrallment. She kicked the bed and gripped the muscles connecting his neckand shoulders as if she’d rip them off.

His fingers dove in. She arched as best as his iron gripallowed, squalling as climax heaved toward the precipice. He stopped.

He spanked her pussy. She wailed, but her thighs offered noattempt to shield her from the sharp blows. In fact, she spread her legs towelcome the attention. The pain was nonexistent. It was only rapture sheexperienced, intensity rather than hurt.

“Just as I want you,” the Nobek growled.

He abruptly rose, taking her with him and flipping her tocrouch on elbows and knees. He was slick and hot and demanding at herentrances. She mewled in desperate hunger, pushing onto him.

“That’s it.” He gripped her hair, his other hand clamped onher hip. “Get on those cocks, girl.”

She worked to do so, her pussy and ass spreading to yield tohis hunger. She needed him to fuck her more than anything she’d needed before.It was his thicker, longer primary she struggled to enclose in her ass, and shegrunted at the effort. He was slick, which helped, but he was so big.

“Slow, little lovely. Don’t hurt yourself. Rock your hips totake a little more in each time.”

She obeyed, though she wanted all of him there and then. Asmall mote of sanity prevailed, reminding her an injury would end the fun on adecidedly bad note.

Bit by frustrating bit, she absorbed him, her tight holestretching as his tapered length increased in girth. At last, she was impaledon him, both shafts filling ass and pussy. She was gorged on cocks,uncomfortably so. At the same instant, she was incredibly excited. Histhicknesses pressed hard where she was most sensitive.

Fully embedded, he used his handful of her hair to press herface on her forearms. His implacable control increased the thrills chasingthrough her. He held her prisoner as he eased free, then slipped back in.Blythe’s tension retreated a touch as the ache receded. Selt continued toslowly, carefully fuck her until tight muscles fully yielded. Bliss suffusedher, and she moaned.

“Good girl,” the Nobek muttered. He eased back, then tookher. Their flesh clapped forcefully together. Exquisite rapture rocketedthrough her, and she yipped.

Gripping her hair and hip, raising her ass slightly, hepounded into her. Her whole body lit at the primitive way he rutted, an animalclaiming his mate. Her nether parts clenched him, demanding. It rendered thefriction more electrifying, and elation began to bloom.

Pleasure flung wide, engulfing her. Her pussy flexed onSelt’s secondary. He shoved deep, yanking her onto himself at every thrust. Shescreamed as a second, bigger orgasm blasted her to the heavens, vaguely awareof him jerking within, his seed jetting in her.

He stayed there after she returned to her senses, until hercunt quit rippling around him. He pulled free carefully. Then she wassurrounded by the trio, who cuddled her on their entwined legs. She was givenwater while her body was rubbed all over, soothing her. She glowed until sheremembered she had a reason not to. Then the lovemaking began anew, allowingher to lose herself in the pureness of lust for a little while longer.

* * **

Blythe Nelson is certain Clan Deram is keepingsomething from her. The clan of spies finds it difficult to stay a step aheadof the wily reporter who’s winning their hearts. What they don’t know is Blythehas a secret of her own. New love can’t survive without trust, and neither sideis ready when the truth comes out.

Dramok Ospar, determined to return to the politicalstage, strikes up a deal with Royal Councilman Oiteil. Unaware he’s dealingwith a Dark entity controlling Oiteil, he finds himself fighting for his honor,his relationship with his clan…and his life.

The Kalquorian Empire, already struggling against theDarks infiltrating its highest offices, suffers a new blow when it’s revealedit’s keeping a prisoner from the war against the first Earth: Holy LeaderBrowning Copeland. The schism between Kalquor and its allies grows deeper,setting the empire against the rest of the galaxy.

As chaos descends on rioting Earther colonies, theGalactic Council of Planets, and Kalquor, a desperate group of humans andKalquorians race to stop the force behind the turmoil: the Darks. Can theyloosen the grip on their worlds the enemy seeks to tighten, or is all lost?

Releasing March 29. Pre-order ebook or buy print now:

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print

 

Dark Empire Book Four: Revelations - Chapter Four, Scene Four

 

With only four days until release, even royal relationships have their moments...especially when the empire is threatened. In one corner, we have the fierce duo of Bevau and Jessica. In the other corner, their opponents, the very definition of fire and ice...Clajak and Egilka. Let's get ready to rumble! (I'm so Gen X, lol.)

* * * *

“We’ve been invaded. We must pull out all the stops to saveourselves from becoming another Bi’is.” Empress Jessica fought against glaringat her Dramok and Imdiko.

It was funny that Bevau, a most protective Nobek, had beenthe one to suggest putting women alongside Royal Guards to listen for thetelltale voice-doubling of those ridden by Darks. Her fierce clanmate wanted tohire as many as possible to guard the Royal and Government Houses, as well asthe Royal Council chambers.

Steel-haired Clajak and the usually reserved Egilka hadlaunched an immediate protest against the plan. “Our precious Mataras on thefront lines against an enemy? Absolutely not,” the Dramok emperor seethed.

“You prefer to have them killed en masse when the Darksovercome us?” Bevau pressed. His manner verged on casual, as if they engaged inpleasant conversation. Again, a funny situation given his was the battle-readybreed, but strong Imdiko traits tempered his warrior nature.

The hotheads of the group were Jessica and Clajak. Jessica,who allowed no men, including her clanmates, to see her as less strong simplybecause she was a woman, warned her Dramok. “We have the opportunity to stopthese creatures in their tracks. We’ll damned well take advantage of it.”

“You said some of our men can detect them by sight.” Clajakaddressed Bevau. “Why not use them?”

“Because we’re still in the testing stages of discoveringthose who are capable of doing so. We’ve just begun to do so on a larger scalein the fleet. Once I’ve determined whether my ground troops have beeninfiltrated and eradicated any threat, we’ll test there too.” Bevau’s patiencewas incredible, given he’d already mentioned these facts twice before. “It’lltake time, which given how the council is already impacted, we don’t have.”

“I told you Oiteil sounded strange,” Jessica muttered.“Terbal too.”

“You didn’t hear the others. The ability might beunreliable.” Egilka, whose lips had set in a stubborn line, was quick to pointit out.

“When have the rest spoken up in my presence lately?”Jessica turned to her assistant, Matara Narpok. “Have I been present duringtheir committee reports at any point?”

“I can check. Give me a couple of minutes.” The statuesqueKalquorian woman sitting beside her set her fingers dancing over her handheld.She wore a sly smirk, and it took Jessica’s willpower to keep from mirroringit. The slight smile said Narpok believed Jessica and Bevau would win thefight. Clajak and Egilka were wasting their breath.

“We don’t put our lifebringers in danger if we can help it,”Clajak growled, his handsome face stormy. “It’s non-negotiable.”

“At the present, Earther women are our only real hope ofdetermining who’s a risk.” Bevau turned to his own aide, Dramok Erybet. “Putthe discussion on the next general meeting’s agenda. It won’t happen until ouroperatives have done what they must to remove the Dark influence from the RoyalCouncil. Let’s talk to a few of those clanned to Earther women, ask if theirmates would consider standing in until we employ personnel.”

“I guarantee mine will be glad to assist,” Erybet said as hebent to his handheld, his black hair swinging forward to hide his disarmingbeauty, second only to Bevau’s perfection. “She loves having a front row seatto the debates.”

His comment lifted some of the tension as the Imperial Clanchuckled. Erybet’s Matara, nicknamed Ray-Ray, attended council meetings whenshe could. She typically pushed herself front and center in the spectators’gallery. Her comments of, “Give me a break” and “You can’t be serious” wereoften heard on the floor. Councilmen and royals alike lived in fear of hearingthe dreaded shout, “Sounds like I’m back on Earth. Are you a friend of the HolyLeader?” when someone dared utter an argument she vehemently disagreed with.

Egilka resumed his protests, his sharp features showingseldom-seen agitation. “Bevau, you’re basically saying our opinions don’tcount. You’re going ahead whether the rest of us agree to it?”

“I’m the Nobek Emperor. My mandate is to protect the empire.Earther Mataras are my one guaranteed option of doing so to defend us from theDarks.” Bevau regarded his clanmate, his gaze warm. “When have I given youcause to doubt my commitment to our people’s welfare?”

Egilka shook his head. “Never, but the women are tooprecious.”

“I agree, which is why I insist on this course of action.”

Clajak slammed against his backrest. He came dangerouslyclose to sulking. “At least share your plan to keep the women safe. I trustyou, but the way I see it, any risk to them is unconscionable.”

“Each will be teamed with two Royal Guards. Confronting theDark-ridden will be up to the Royal Guards, not the Mataras. The women willmerely alert our security detail to enemy presence.”

Silence held for a few seconds as the dissenting emperorsconsidered. It was broken by Narpok.

“Your pardon, my empress and emperors. As far as I canconfirm, Empress Jessica hasn’t had the opportunity to hear Councilmen Naresh,Evod, Eka, Tena, or Saomut speak since it’s believed the Darks arrived onKalquor. She’s attended none of their committee meetings, she’s had noappointments with them, nor have they spoken during the general meetings.”Narpok had the good taste to refrain from gloating, though she countedJessica’s victories in opposition to the emperors as her own. The men and shehad been at bitter odds in the past, long before Jessica had come on the scene.

“Thank you, Narpok.” Jessica beamed at the aide she countedas a teammate when it came to overriding her overly protective clanmates.

“I think you can count on Sonia to also stand guard,” Narpoksaid, naming her life partner. “I’ll check.”

Clajak’s and Egilka’s aides offered no indication they’drequest the duty of their Mataras, whether because they disapproved of the planor simply didn’t wish to irritate their reluctant employers. Jessica knew thewomen they were clanned to, women she believed would jump at the chance tohelp, but she wisely decided she’d leave the matter to their clans to debate.

“Make sure you impress on your lifemates the need to remainquiet about the Darks beyond yourselves,” Bevau warned Erybet and Narpok. “Wefirst have to try to capture those we’re aware of. Our enemy can’t know we’reon to them until we’re ready to inform the empire as a whole.”

“At least we can agree on that,” Clajak said.

* * **

Blythe Nelson is certain Clan Deram is keepingsomething from her. The clan of spies finds it difficult to stay a step aheadof the wily reporter who’s winning their hearts. What they don’t know is Blythehas a secret of her own. New love can’t survive without trust, and neither sideis ready when the truth comes out.

Dramok Ospar, determined to return to the politicalstage, strikes up a deal with Royal Councilman Oiteil. Unaware he’s dealingwith a Dark entity controlling Oiteil, he finds himself fighting for his honor,his relationship with his clan…and his life.

The Kalquorian Empire, already struggling against theDarks infiltrating its highest offices, suffers a new blow when it’s revealedit’s keeping a prisoner from the war against the first Earth: Holy LeaderBrowning Copeland. The schism between Kalquor and its allies grows deeper,setting the empire against the rest of the galaxy.

As chaos descends on rioting Earther colonies, theGalactic Council of Planets, and Kalquor, a desperate group of humans andKalquorians race to stop the force behind the turmoil: the Darks. Can theyloosen the grip on their worlds the enemy seeks to tighten, or is all lost?

Releasing March 29. Pre-order ebook or buy print now:

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print

Dark Empire Book Four: Revelations - Chapter Four, Scene Three

 

We're almost there! Revelations releases in five days!

Today, Lokmi is feeling the pressure. They couldn't trap even one Dark on their last attempt. How are they supposed to capture all those infecting the Royal Council?

* * **

“Seven,” Lokmi grumbled as he sat next to Hope and studiedschematics in the workspace Clan Tranis had given them in their guest suite.“We couldn’t catch one damned Dark, now we’re supposed to trap seven!”

Hope’s warm presence at his side shifted. “We only have toget the containment configuration right once. Do so, and all seven traps willwork.”

He could have snapped at her, except she was his heart andhis universe. The pressure to capture the barely seen enemy had been intense.Since verifying Ilid’s assertion multiple members of the Royal Council had beenovertaken by Darks, the pressure had become crushing. Lokmi felt physically illthinking of those black blobs perched on the backs and shoulders of fellowKalquorians, tentacle limbs snaking around their throats.

They’d have to snag the lot at once to ensure theinfiltration’s secrecy, as Emperor Bevau wished them to. The failed attempt tocapture Hobato’s rider seemed to have gone unnoticed by the rest of the All. Ifan alarm had gone out among the Darks, there was no evidence of it. The longerLokmi’s group could quietly trap the invaders intent on subverting the empire,the better.

It meant multiple teams converging on the ridden councilmen,because the seven sat or led major committees guaranteeing the security of theempire. Multiple moving parts meant more chances of the mission going wrong, ifit had any hope of going right in the first place.

“My Imdiko.” Hope turned from their work, sliding a slightarm around him. “We’ll do our best. No one can ask more of us. Since we learnedwhere the weak point was on the first attempt, I can zero in my nanos to testthe next.”

He pulled in a deep breath, begging calm to find him. “Iknow. It’s just…I’ve only ever had the empire’s survival riding on my shouldersbefore. Not the whole of civilization.”

She rewarded his attempt at humor with a chuckle and a kiss.“I believe in you. You won’t fail.”

“It isn’t just us and Clan Tranis this time. More operativesmean additional opportunities for shit to go wrong.”

“It’s okay. Now that we don’t have Hobato hamstringing ourwork, Tranis is assigning the elite of the spy division to make the mission asuccess. We will do this.”

He crooked a smile. “Should we change your name to Faith,like your mother?”

She winked and returned to work. Sighing, Lokmi did too.

* * **

Blythe Nelson is certain Clan Deram is keepingsomething from her. The clan of spies finds it difficult to stay a step aheadof the wily reporter who’s winning their hearts. What they don’t know is Blythehas a secret of her own. New love can’t survive without trust, and neither sideis ready when the truth comes out.

Dramok Ospar, determined to return to the politicalstage, strikes up a deal with Royal Councilman Oiteil. Unaware he’s dealingwith a Dark entity controlling Oiteil, he finds himself fighting for his honor,his relationship with his clan…and his life.

The Kalquorian Empire, already struggling against theDarks infiltrating its highest offices, suffers a new blow when it’s revealedit’s keeping a prisoner from the war against the first Earth: Holy LeaderBrowning Copeland. The schism between Kalquor and its allies grows deeper,setting the empire against the rest of the galaxy.

As chaos descends on rioting Earther colonies, theGalactic Council of Planets, and Kalquor, a desperate group of humans andKalquorians race to stop the force behind the turmoil: the Darks. Can theyloosen the grip on their worlds the enemy seeks to tighten, or is all lost?

Releasing March 29. Pre-order ebook or buy print now:

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print

 

Dark Empire Book Four: Revelations - Chapter Four, Scene Two

 

The countdown is on! Revelations releases next Friday. 

Today, a challenge to Ospar's honor as Oiteil alleges Fleet Command is under attack.

* * * *

“Ospar, we must meet as soon as possible.”

Ospar frowned at his com, as if Royal Councilman Oiteilcould see him despite them speaking via audio connection only. “Right now?”

He was alone at home, working from his office there. It hadbeen another dull day of researching potential new businesses and non-profitsto invest in. His projects were good for the empire and a way for him to killthe endless hours until his family returned home from their various activities,but infernally boring.

He wondered at his reaction to Oiteil’s summons. He shouldhave been delighted at the opportunity to strategize his return to politics.Surely that was why Oiteil had contacted him. Maybe he’d finally gathered thevotes to overturn Ospar’s sentence and keep the Imperial Clan from denying it.

Something in Ospar’s gut had reacted negatively to the soundof Oiteil’s voice, however. He dismissed it as a vagary of his depressing day.

His excitement to be the subject of Oiteil’s campaign ofredemption asserted itself as the councilman spoke. “Not yet, though time is ofthe essence. I’ve uncovered a conspiracy in Fleet Command’s highest offices.”

“Fleet Command?”

“Admiral Hobato has apparently suffered a medical emergency.Admirals Tranis and Piras, with the assistance of their clanmates, have seizedcontrol of the fleet.”

Ospar’s jaw dropped. “Admiral Piras! But he’s…isn’t heexiled? You said he left Bi’is, but he’s supposed to be orbiting Earth now—”

“He and his clanmates, Captain Kila and Chief EngineerLokmi, are here on Kalquor. As is their Matara Hope Nath, who happens to be thedaughter of General Borey Nath.”

“Borey Nath.” Ospar’s mind reeled. He’d been the HolyLeader’s last general, a military man of unsurpassed excellence.

“Fascinating coincidence, wouldn’t you say? The situation atFleet Headquarters smells of a conspiracy to undermine the empire.”

“Have you spoken to the Imperial Clan? They should beinformed immediately.”

A hesitation before Oiteil spoke again. “They may have ahand in it. Or at least, a member of the Imperial Clan could be involved. I’munsure. All I know is Fleet Command has had a major shakeup, the ground troopsmay be next, and we can’t get a straight answer on what’s happening.”

The ground troops? They fell under Emperor Bevau’s directsupervision as Imperial Commander, but he had a large number of trusted highcommanders who were cleared to operate independently.

Oiteil had said a member of the Imperial Clan could beinvolved. Surely not Bevau, the man tasked with the safety and security ofKalquor.

Ospar cursed. In the old days, he’d have gotten answers inthe space of an hour. Now, no one would answer his coms if he’d dared to makethem. Oiteil was his only connection to the empire’s political landscape.

“Listen to me, Ospar. I’ll soon be able to force the vote tobring you back, at least in an advisory capacity until the next election cycleputs you on the Royal Council, where you belong. Meanwhile, I’ll keep you up todate as I learn the latest so you’ll be ready to assist me.”

“I’m ready as soon as you say.” Ospar fought the urge tobolt straight to Empress Jessica, the royal he’d enjoyed the greatestcamaraderie with.

She needed him if the fleet and ground troops werecompromised. His empire needed him.

“Tell no one of what I’ve shared. Including your clan. Ihope we aren’t veering into trouble, but if we are, we must maintain silenceuntil we learn exactly who our enemies are.”

It was on the tip of Ospar’s tongue to remind Oiteil of howhelpful Jol was when it came to ferreting fact from fiction. Ospar’s Nobek hadconnections and experience at the level of the empire’s best officialoperatives. If anyone could discover if members of the fleet’s high command hadgone rogue, Ospar would have put his money on Jol.

Before he could utter a word, the odd reluctance he’dexperienced at the beginning of the exchange stilled his protest. Something inhim shouted to leave Jol’s name out of the conversation. Because he’d learnedto automatically bow to certain instincts…a trait that had saved his life inthe past…he said, “If you think it’s best.”

“It’s imperative. Be ready to meet when I call upon you todo so. I don’t know if I’m being watched or monitored so…yes, meeting in personwill be preferred.”

He cut off their connection without further comment. Osparstared at his com, anxious and confused.

He shouldn’t have agreed to keep the conversation from hisclanmates. They were his confidantes. They were his conscience, if he were tobe honest. He’d kept them informed of Oiteil’s campaign to have him reinstated.They hadn’t been entirely supportive of the idea, but they were content towatch how the situation played out before rendering final judgment. They’doffered their concerns, and he’d listened. He’d proceeded cautiously at theirrequest by refusing to meet Oiteil in public thus far. He’d gone as far as toturn and walk in the opposite direction on the occasions he’d discovered thecouncilman, by accident or design, in his vicinity.

“It’s just for a few days,” he assured himself. “As soon asOiteil has concrete evidence something’s going on, I’ll bring Jol in on it.”

It seemed wise. To tell his Nobek untoward events mightbe happening at the highest reaches of the fleet would be jumping at shadows.It was better to wait, no matter how his gut churned to keep secrets from thosefew with whom he preferred a policy of absolute honesty.

* * **

Blythe Nelson is certain Clan Deram is keepingsomething from her. The clan of spies finds it difficult to stay a step aheadof the wily reporter who’s winning their hearts. What they don’t know is Blythehas a secret of her own. New love can’t survive without trust, and neither sideis ready when the truth comes out.

Dramok Ospar, determined to return to the politicalstage, strikes up a deal with Royal Councilman Oiteil. Unaware he’s dealingwith a Dark entity controlling Oiteil, he finds himself fighting for his honor,his relationship with his clan…and his life.

The Kalquorian Empire, already struggling against theDarks infiltrating its highest offices, suffers a new blow when it’s revealedit’s keeping a prisoner from the war against the first Earth: Holy LeaderBrowning Copeland. The schism between Kalquor and its allies grows deeper,setting the empire against the rest of the galaxy.

As chaos descends on rioting Earther colonies, theGalactic Council of Planets, and Kalquor, a desperate group of humans andKalquorians race to stop the force behind the turmoil: the Darks. Can theyloosen the grip on their worlds the enemy seeks to tighten, or is all lost?

Releasing March 29. Pre-order ebook or buy print now:

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, print