Taking excerpts from REEDE, my recent scifi romance release…
Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…a fun way to sample new books and find new authors! (Also welcome to the Sunday Snippet visitors!)
Punctuation may be wonky to comply with our guidelines here. May be edited a bit from published version.
If you haven’t read any of my Badari Warriors books, here’s the background:
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 from the Sectors 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 excerpt (follows right after last week’s excerpt):
Reede opened his mouth to say something but paused, releasing her arm and turning his head sharply toward the corridor, “Someone’s coming. Remember, follow my lead.” Throwing down the cards, he rose and waited for her to join him, placing her slightly behind him.
She protested, trying to stand beside him.
“I appreciate your military instinct to cover the flank,” he said in a low voice, “But as my prospective mate, I’d be protecting you with my life and the Khagrish will expect to see us demonstrate the appropriate behavior.”
Swallowing hard, she nodded and stepped back, allowing him to assume a defensive posture in front. How real is this mate business to him? Fallyn pushed the concern away. Now wasn’t the time to distract herself but he seemed to be sending mixed messages.
A tall Khagrish scientist with a towering, flaming head of red hair tortured into the spiky style they preferred, sauntered down the corridor, followed by lab techs, including the one Reede had knocked out earlier in the day, and black clad security guards. Smoking a long, slender feelgood stick, she stood in the hall for a moment, assessing the two of them.
The blurb: Lt. Fallyn Damara was sent by the Sectors to investigate a strange transmission from an isolated planet and determine whether the residents of a vanished colony had been transported there by alien enemies. Fallyn’s ship crashes and she’s taken prisoner by the Khagrish scientists, to await her fate in the slate of horrifying experiments being conducted.
Reede, the second ranking enforcer in the Badari Warrior pack, volunteers to be recaptured by the Khagrish in an effort to locate and rescue Fallyn inside the deadly lab complex.
While a prisoner Reede discovers Fallyn is the woman destined to become his fated mate but the moment is bittersweet because Fallyn will be leaving their world at the first opportunity, to report back to the Sectors. He refuses to complete the mate bond, believing to do so will lead to nothing but lifelong misery for them both, separated by lightyears and interstellar politics.
For her part, Fallyn wants to shake up the rule-bound enforcer and persuade him to take a chance on love.
But first they have to escape the Khagrish.
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It’s good he’s there to defend her, but I agree with her. How far is he willing to take this charade?
Well and she is actually the woman who could be his mate but they haven’t really had that discussion yet.
He’s taking a big chance here. I have a feeling she will jump in and spoil what he is trying to do. You have me wringing my hands. Dear friend, you get two hugs for this amazing snippet.
I liked the description of the Khagrish – “…red hair tortured into the spiky style…”
You paint such a vivid picture in this scene. Excellent description, my friend!
That image of the khargish scientist makes them even scarier than they were before! I can really see the standoff happening here. Don’t think it will end well for our heroes.
In the earlier books there are a variety of incidents showing how evil the Khagrish are, so I’m glad the description in this one works to establish that for new-to-the-series readers! Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated…
Love his logic here and you display so well her resistance to playing the weaker role. Nice job.
I really appreciate the feedback. Fallyn is a different heroine for the series in that she’s an active duty Sectors soldier, on a specific mission. I tried throughout the book to make sure I was upholding her military discipline and outlook.
Great snippet. I imagine whatever’s coming can’t be good.
Thanks for taking time to visit and comment! Always much appreciated 🙂
I love how she want to protect him. lol Just finished this book and loved it.
Thank you! HUGS! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed REEDE’s adventure with Fallyn. I plan to write a novella at some point about how it goes when he reaches the Sectors…
Oh this will be a very interesting encounter. Good snippet, Veronica.
I actually think the Khagrish are in for a surprise. Between our H/h, I bet they make quite the fighting team. Loving this story and the whole series!
Giving her the added pressure and uncertainty of having to play an unaccustomed role really ups the tension.
I curious to know where this charade will go. Intrigued!
These are such good books. And I am a fan of the titles! Great names, Jean. 🙂
A vividly painted picture. Enjoyed the excerpt.