Will He Find Her In Time? Excerpt from TIMTUR Badari Warriors

This week I was thrilled to release the next book in my Badari Warriors series! Sharing an excerpt today, right after the blurb below:

Genetically engineered soldiers of the far future, the Badari were created by alien enemies to fight humans. But then the scientists kidnapped an entire human colony to use as subjects in twisted experiments…the Badari and the humans made common cause, rebelled and escaped the labs. Now they live side by side in a sanctuary valley protected by a powerful Artificial Intelligence, and wage unceasing war on the aliens. The luckiest Badari find their mates among the humans.

Far from her home in the human Sectors after the mass kidnapping, teacher Lily Garrison is making a niche for herself in the valley by running a school for the Badari young. Although she yearns for Timtur, the pack’s healer, another Badari male has his eye on her and won’t take no for an answer.

Timtur feels the weight and responsibility of being the pack’s only healer, constantly on call as the soldiers fight ferocious battles against the alien scientists and their troops. With scarcely a moment to himself, he’s drawn to the gentle Lily but worries he won’t be able to juggle his duties, his loyalty to the pack and a relationship with a human woman.

When Lily’s stalker takes direct action to kidnap her and steal her from the safety of the valley, she’s forced to reach deep inside to find the strength to battle for her life. Timtur realizes too late how foolish he’s been to resist the bond with his fated mate and leads the rescue effort.

Before this situation can be resolved both will have to put their lives on the line and decide what really matters in a dangerous world ruled by the enemy.

Although this is the fifth book released in the Badari Warriors scifi romance series, the story of Timtur and Lily is a standalone and actually comes immediately after book two’s events.

The excerpt (slightly edited from published version):

Timtur leaped to his feet and was running from the office as fast as he could go, heading for Lily’s office in the grove where the school activities were centered. His mind was full of dark foreboding, and he prayed to the goddess he’d find her alone in her office. He was relieved to see the office door closed but, when he knocked and flung the portal open in the same impatient gesture, his heart sank.

The empty office showed ominous signs of a struggle, with a broken chair and bookshelves shoved askew. Head up, he took a deep breath and sifted the scents, his adrenaline spiking. Lily, terrified. Vattan and three other Badari males, high on adrenaline, at least one of the males sexually aroused.

No, no, no. Pivoting on his heel, he followed the scents, hoping he could catch the kidnappers, ready to do whatever it would take to free Lily. Vattan took Lily. I’m on the trail, he broadcast to Aydarr and Mateer while running full out into the forest, sick with dread. As he zigged and zagged through the trees, he heard the Alpha repeating his message and location to the rest of the pack, calling a full alert of all the Badari in the valley.

When you find them, do not engage, the Alpha said to him. You can’t take on Vattan and three soldiers alone. We’re close behind you.

Timtur didn’t bother answering. If Lily was in imminent danger, he’d make no promises about waiting for reinforcements. One Generation 8 soldier against a younger Generation 9 alpha-born and his three soldiers wasn’t good odds, but her safety was his paramount concern. It looks as if they head for the cliffs, he reported to the others.

Could they have left the valley? Taken Lily and climbed to the ridge? Mateer’s question came through.

I pray to the goddess you’re wrong but my fear over their escape route is growing. Timtur remembered how utterly terrified Lily was of heights. What would Vattan have to do to her to carry her up the sheer face of the cliffs?

Two other Badari, Darik and Camron, caught up to Timtur, flanking him as he continued to make the best time he could through the dense foliage.

Sending Gabe aloft now to run aerial reconnaissance. Aydarr’s tone in Timtur’s head was taut with anger the likes of which he’d never heard. Vattan wasn’t going to survive this outrage, and Timtur prayed he got the first chance at executing the scum. On that thought, he broke through the last bit of scrub brush and skidded to a halt at the base of the cliffs enclosing the lake and the valley.

“The renegades climbed out,” Darik said, standing beside him, head thrown back, scanning the rock face. “You can see the signs.” He pointed to barely visible claw marks on the rocks.

“I hate to think how Vattan got Lily up the ascent,” Timtur said, breathing hard and terrified for her. “She’s deathly afraid of heights.” Assessing the daunting terrain, he paced along the base of the cliff. “I’m going up here.” Using his talons, he scaled the cliff without too much trouble, Darik and Camron close behind. At the top, he caught the scent again and set out at an easy run to the north. Where the hell are these bastards going?

I wonder how much of a head start Vattan has? Darik said to him over the mental channel. Who reported seeing him in the valley, and how long ago was the sighting?

Too long. Aydarr’s comment in Timtur’s head was bleak. It was a human who saw them and didn’t understand the significance. Thank the goddess he mentioned the encounter in passing to a Badari later but we lost several critical hours. I’m sure Vattan didn’t linger after grabbing Lily.

So we’re already far behind. Timtur ran faster in response to the news, desperate to catch up with Vattan’s group, but shortly he forced himself to throttle back to the steady pace he knew he could maintain for hours. A sprint right now would only leave himself exhausted and of no help to Lily. He sent the goddess a silent prayer to watch over her until he could come to her rescue with all the fury he was bottling up inside. The urge to rend Vattan to tiny pieces with his fangs and claws for this outrage was a constant fire burning in his mind, adding strength to his resolve.

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Can he rescue her in time? Will he ever forgive himself for not claiming his mate when he had the chance?

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