Clan Beginnings: Clan and Crave - Chapter Five, Scene One

 

Releasing May 31. Pre-order now: Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Apple, Kobo, Smashwords, print

Even during "war," Sletran can't get Conyod out of his head.

* * * *

Sletran, age 35

The surprise war game was going well. Binmej’s soldiers wereformidable, but Erybet’s were on their way to decisive victory. Sletran’ssquads had “killed” or captured three enemy divisions. The Nobek couldn’t havebeen prouder of those under his command as they marched their angry prisonersto the holding pen.

Like any of his breed, a good fight had his blood up. Heknew beneath their training armor, the warriors duking it out on the simbattlefield were aroused to a man. The barracks would resound with the soundsof fucking late into the night.

His thoughts, when there was a pause in the fighting and hewasn’t consumed by the obsessive determination to overcome Binmej’s men, wentstraight to Conyod. They’d had an amazing night, and he was primed for another.

Not only for sex. He was amazed at how the traumatized youthhad grown to a self-assured man. It hinted at a strength that while not Nobek,was impressive on its own merit. A strength Sletran hadn’t witnessed whenConyod had been a teen. Then, he’d been a boy haunted by misplaced guilt.Conyod had been caught between loving and rejecting his parents, who’d been toodamaged by loss to properly care for him.

Sletran had distanced himself to discourage Conyod’sinfatuation when it had become obvious. However, they’d communicated enoughsince then for him to know the Imdiko’s relationship with his mother andfathers remained strained. Thanks to therapy, Dramok Tuher and Imdiko Sema hadrecognized their contributions to Conyod’s trauma. They’d done their utmost torelax their obsessive vigilance over their surviving son, and the relationshipbetween the three was the healthiest it had been since Hoslek’s death.

Matara Lafec and Nobek Vel continued to push the limitsConyod had established for his independence. He was forced on occasion toremind them to back off when they overstepped the boundaries he’d set.

He was his own man now. Sletran was delighted on severallevels to witness it, and he wanted to experience more of Conyod’scompanionship. He wanted to know everything about the intelligent and stunningImdiko he’d never seen coming.

As his primary squad reached base camp to the cheers oftheir side, a soldier jogged to Sletran. “Group Commander Erybet wishes me toinform you High Commander Zyrf has declared our group the winner of the games.Because your squad defeated the largest number of the enemy, Commander Erybetrequests you join him and High Commander Zyrf at the observation post to offertheir congratulations personally for a job well done.”

Sletran grinned. “It will be my pleasure.” After all thepomp and talk, he’d com Conyod to learn if they could meet for dinner…andlater, maybe the kind of congratulations he’d enjoy best.

* * **

Heneeded a hero and found two. Can love rescue him again?

NobekSletran never took Imdiko Conyod’s infatuation seriously when he rescued himyears before. When Conyod shows up in his life again as a strong and successfulman instead of a traumatized victim, Sletran has to reconsider the one he oncerejected and now can’t imagine life without.

Conyod hasnever given up on the man he considers his hero. Sletran is all he’s everwanted for a clanmate, and he’s determined to win him at last. But the past refusesto be laid to rest. When Conyod convinces Sletran to see him for who he’sbecome, will who he was resurface and destroy the love they’re building?

Sletran’scommanding officer Dramok Erybet is instantly fascinated by Conyod when thesoldier brings his love on base for a visit. However, Sletran isn’t the NobekErybet feels is right for him. When he rejects the Nobek, he risks losingConyod too.

Againstthe backdrop of heartbreaking childhood tragedy, a ghost who haunts Conyod andhis grief-stricken family, and military brass determined to oust Erybet fromthe rank he’s worked so hard to reach, three men must come to terms with whothey are. When tragedy strikes, the nightmares of the past must be faced andburied once and for all. Conyod, Sletran, and Erybet must dare everything tofind redemption and hold on to each other.

Releasing May 31.  Pre-order now: Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Apple, Kobo, Smashwords, print