Downfall Released

Downfall, Book 5 of the kan Ingan Archives has just been released by Double Dragon Publishing.

At the age of nineteen, Barbara Sheffield is stunned to learn she’s not her parents’ daughter but the child of Aric kan Ingan, Margrave of Arcanis, and not only that, she has a twin brother. Soon, she’s on her way to a joyous reunion with the father she has never known, but there are others on Arcanis who aren’t so glad to meet the Margrave’s long-lost child, including Aric’s second wife, Dr. Susan Moran. Dazzled with her new family and charmed by her handsome but spoiled twin, Barbara finds herself falling in love with Eden san Gene, the young White Shield sent to escort her from Earth. When vengeful forces trigger treachery and madness, Eden’s love may not be enough to protect her from the wickedness hidden within Aljansur Palace’s walls.

Buy Link: http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/s...

EXCERPT:

“Dad?” Mark was yelling as he ran, not attempting to lower his voice, certain the Emissary could hear through the door . “Dad? Dad, there’s a guy here. He’s asking for you. At least, I think he wants you.”
Miles came through the door, a cup containing coffee substitute in hand.
“He says he wants to talk to the Warrior Sheffield. He…Dad, is that you?”
Miles looked slightly surprised, then laughed out loud.
“Been a long time since I’ve heard that,” he muttered and walked into the living room, looking around. “Where is he?”
“He's outside. I asked him to wait.”
“For God’s sake, Mark.” Miles’ scowl commented on his son’s manners. “Let him in!”
Obediently, Mark ran back to the door, opened it and said, hastily, “Come in, please. Sorry to keep you waiting.” He hoped that would soothe any ruffled Arcanian feathers.
The young man followed him into the living room, looking around with obvious curiosity. As he saw Miles, he stopped, staring at him for a full minute before speaking. “Warrior Sheffield?” Again, that stiff little bow, the words accompanying it asked in what Mark thought was a combination of hope and disbelief. He felt a slight ruffle of anger as he imagined disapproval in the way the man looked first at his surroundings and then at the jeans and sweatshirt in which his father was dressed.
“I’m the Warrior, and you are—?” Miles set down his cup, acknowledging the gesture with a bow replicating the other’s exactly. Mark managed to turn his laugh into a quick cough, putting his hand to his mouth to cover his smile.
“Eden san Gene, White Shield, sent by His Majesty, Aric, to deliver this to your hand.” From the cuff of one glove, he pulled a small disk, its cover sealed with a crimson shield.
“Would you get my hand unit, Mark?” Miles took the disk and broke the seal. As the boy picked up the little mini-comp sitting on a nearby table and held it out to him, he was startled to see that his father’s hand shook slightly. Miles slid the disk inside. The little screen rolled, words appeared, and he began to read. There was no greeting, none of the formalities he had included in his own letter. What he saw were the words of an old friend.

Miles.

I received your letter with surprise and pleasure. While it is true I relinquished all parental claim to my daughter, I’ve never ceased to think of her. Seeing my son grow up, I couldn’t help wondering how his sister fared, but I swear to you, I’ve never attempted in any fashion to communicate with her.

Being kan Ingan means being too proud, but you already know that, and I should’ve also. I should’ve profited from my past mistakes, but I never seem to be able to. I was wrong to do what I did, a man in grief long regretting that one act, and my pride wouldn’t let me recant it. I said I never wanted to hear of her again, and I forced myself to hold to that.

Tell my daughter it would please me to see her. Bring her to me. Whether she forgives me or not is unimportant. I merely wish, for a short while, to be reunited with my child.

Aric.

Miles looked up, forcing himself to look stern. For the moment, he concentrated on Eden san Gene while the young men regarded him just as solemnly. They both ignored Mark as if he wasn’t there.
“Are you aware of the contents of this letter?” he asked the White Shield.
“Only the gist, sir,” the young man answered. “That it concerns the Lady Barbara’s returning to Arcanis.”
Lady Barbara? Barbie? Again, Mark had to stifle a smile. Shit with a hat on!
“Do the people of Arcanis know about my— about His Majesty’s daughter?”
“Yes, sir. Lord Aric called an emergency meeting of the Council of Advisors after receiving your letter. Shortly afterwards, he personally made an announcement via satellite to the entire galaxy, announcing that his daughter, who was raised on Terra, is returning home.”
“How was that received?” Managed to cover that up nicely, didn’t you, Aric? Miles managed an ironic smile at that thought.
“With great surprise, sir,” came the answer. “As you know, besides his heir, His Majesty and the Lady Susan have five children, and now, to discover there’s another Royal child—”
“That’s right.” Miles looked thoughtful. “Susan's children aren’t considered nobility, are they?”

How could that be, Mark wondered. If that kan Ingan guy was their father, and he’s the king, how can they not be Royal while Barbie, his bratty little sister, was? He wanted to ask but was hesitant to interrupt. It was getting weirder by the minute.
“Miles, who was at the door?” Debra came through the kitchen door and the atmosphere in the room changed.
“My wife… Uh…” For a moment, Miles appeared undecided how to refer to Debra. “Mistress Sheffield. Deb, this is Eden san Gene.”
“Hi.” Debra held out her hand.
“My lady.” She was given a gracious bow as the White Shield took her hand, gently brushing his lips across the backs of her fingers. Mark goggled. Debra looked surprised.
“May I meet Her Ladyship, sir?” san Gene asked, releasing Debra’s hand. “I’ve a personal message for her, also.”
“Mark?” Miles’ words brought his son back to reality. “Would you ask your sis— the Lady Barbara to come downstairs?”
The White Shield turned to look at him, blond brows raising slightly as if commenting on his ability to perform such a simple task.
“Sure, Dad.” A sudden rebellious streak rushed through Mark, a desire to put the visitor in his royal-emissarial place and show that he, Marcus Sheffield, wasn’t impressed by his uniform. Walking to the foot of the staircase, he looked up, and bellowed, “Hey, Barb! Get down here! There’s someone wants to see you!”
“Mark!” The hiss of disapproval came from Debra.
Mark didn’t answer, just turned, looked at his mother and ducked his head in apology as Barbara appeared on the landing, leaning over the railing to ask, “Do you have to shout like that? Dad, can’t you make Mark act—” She saw the Arcanian and stopped. “Oh. Hello. Wh-who are you?”
San Gene cleared his throat, a fleeting smile crossing his face before he assumed a more serious expression. Two steps brought him to the foot of the stairs where he stopped, looking up at her.
He’s going to bow again, Mark thought. I just know it.
Sure enough, san Gene ducked his head, then raised it to look at her again. “Lady Barbara?”
“Uh…well, I’m Barbara.” She glanced at Miles. “Daddy, who—”
“Barbara, this is Eden san Gene, the— Your father’s representative.”
“Oh.” She thought about that a moment, then smiled. “And how is dear old Dad?”
That made Mark grin, though the Margrave’s emissary appeared a little flustered by the question. “I— His Majesty’s well, but...”
His voice trailed away as Barbara came down the stairs, holding out her hand. It was certainly a graceful gesture, Mark had to admit. Maybe a little Royal, too.
“I’m very glad to meet you. I’m sorry I was so impertinent. I sometimes do that on serious occasions. And this definitely is serious, isn’t it?”
He looked as if he wasn’t certain what to say, studied the outstretched hand, stepped forward as if he were going to touch it, then bowed again, directly over her fingers. Then he dropped to one knee. “Eden san Gene, Your Ladyship, White Shield and representative of your Royal father, Aric, Margrave—”
With a look of disbelief, Barbara stared at him, and then at Miles, as the Arcanian reeled off a string of titles. This time, Mark snickered out loud. He couldn’t help it. Seeing someone actually kneeling to Barbie, of all people! God! A glare from Miles made him choke back the rest of the laugh.
“Please, get up.” She reached out and touched his shoulder.
Quickly, Eden got to his feet.
“This is embarrassing.”
“My lady.” He pulled another disk from the high cuff and offered to her.
Silently, Miles held out the hand unit, and they waited while Barbara read whatever Aric had written to his daughter. As she finished, she clutched the little unit tightly and continued to stare at the screen.
“Well, Daddy, this is what I wanted, isn’t it?” She looked a little frightened.
“What are your orders?” Miles turned to Eden.
“I’m to accompany you, the Lady Barbara, and your heir—” He turned to include a surprised Mark in his reply. “To Arcanis, should she decide to accept my Lord’s invitation. Otherwise, I’ll return immediately. Alone.”
“Of course we’re going,” Barbara answered for all of them. “I’m just as curious about him as he is about me. Maybe even more so.” She handed the hand unit back to Miles. “This should be fun.”
Fun wasn’t exactly the word Mark had in mind. Silently, he studied the White Shield. Damn it, the guy’s too handsome! Dad had said Arcanians were good-looking but this Eden was more than that. It ought to be against intergalactic law for a man to have hair that shade of blond. Hell, it’s almost white, with a…kind of glint to it, like angelica-dust! And the way he was looking at Barbie… Kind of a you’re-a-chocolate-éclair-and-I’ve-got-a-tremendous-sweet-tooth stare. Mark really didn’t like that. There was nothing subservient about that topaz gaze. Where’d he get those yellow eyes, anyway? Mark could feel all his Big Brotherly instincts lumbering to their feet.