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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

I’m taking excerpts from my new release KYDEN: BADARI GLADIATORS SERIES BOOK ONE.

The excerpt – Kyden in the arena:

When it was time for him to return to the sands, he found the klixta worms waiting for him in a writhing mass. They were quite ferocious in appearance, with tentacles and barbs but were actually a mindless mass of parasites from a forest world. A clever gladiator could make the creature appear to be a formidable opponent by dancing in and out of reach, slicing off appendages as the klixta roared and advanced, but in reality the alien life form ate only lichen and large insects. They were a closely held secret of the gladiatorial world because crowds loved them. Occasionally a gladiator was assigned to be ‘devoured’ by the klixta and other men assigned to ‘rescue’ him, which the crowds adored. The common people ate up all the public relations flackery about the gallant warriors and the friendships and feuds which supposedly went on.

Erment and the other masters kept tight control on the promotional machinery.

Kyden made an excellent show of his time with the klixta, conscious of Elara in her luxurious box, watching. He wanted her to see him at his best and he was glad he wasn’t fighting other humanoids today. He had no desire to hurt or kill anyone in front of her. This protoplasmic chimera didn’t feel pain as far as anyone could ascertain and regenerated in an acid bath in a few days so he had no qualms. The crowd roared its approval as he cut off the final ‘head’ and the klixta collapsed, oozing brightly colored fluids onto the sand.

He bowed to the empty emperor’s box and then—greatly daring—to the Senatorial seats. Warmth ran through him at the quick sight of the lady applauding his effort.

The bored officials brought him the afternoon’s crown of woven greenery while the announcer read off his point totals and then Kyden left the arena without attempting to see Elara again.

VS: But he’s going to see her again and soon…..

KYDEN: BADARI GLADIATORS SERIES BOOK ONE by Veronica Scott

Kyden is the top ranked gladiator in the Five Systems but he’s hardly there by choice. Unscrupulous guards faked his death in the lab where he was created and sold him into slavery in the galaxy’s hinterlands. He has no idea where his home is or how many years have passed since he was condemned to a life of endless combat. Kill or be killed is the rule and a Badari never gives up. He’ll fight to stay alive until the Badari goddess sees fit to decree his death.

Elara Vasclavian is the daughter of a senator, as far removed from the life of a gladiator as a noblewoman can be until through the machinations of a political enemy, she ends up in terrible jeopardy. Abducted and given to a group of drunken gladiators for their amusement the night before the games, Elara vows to put up a fight but there’s no real hope of saving herself. Until Kyden steps in, responding to the goddess’s commandment to protect those who are smaller and weaker. And discovers she’s his fated mate.

Rescued, Elara returns to her life of privilege but she can’t forget the man who saved her life. The gulf between their places in the Five Systems is unbridgeable, no matter how much Kyden longs for even a glimpse of her in the arena audience. No matter how much she feels the pull to be by his side. As matters stand, they cannot be together…Or can they?

KYDEN is the first book in a new series, spun off from my ongoing Badari Warriors series. Kyden is a Generation Five Badari whereas the main characters in the long running series are from a later time and are Generation Eight. This new series stands alone and you don’t have to have read any of the other books to enjoy this one. I couldn’t resist the temptation to tell a few other Badari stories, set in the galaxy’s Hinterlands, and who can resist gladiators?

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