VS: REEDE’s story is told in book 9 of the series about these genetically engineered supersoldiers of the far future, and then he and his mate Fallyn also reappear as the MMC and the FMC in book 15, REEDE’S MISSION TO THE SECTORS. Fallyn here is a Sectors scout, captured by the enemy aliens and Reede has gone undercover as a prisoner at the same lab. They’re brought together by an experiment the alien scientists are pursuing.

The excerpt:

The line of women shuffled forward under the watchful gaze of the guards, moving through a succession of corridors until they stopped, waiting in a queue to enter a door up ahead. Fallyn was puzzled as she watched the women ahead of her enter the room one at a time and then emerge a few minutes later. Most acted dazed, one laughed, another was in hysterics and the Khagrish in charge made sure they didn’t speak to the others who had yet to enter. What mattered most to Fallyn was none of the women seemed to be in worse physical condition after undergoing whatever was done in the room.

When it finally came her turn, the guard in charge grabbed her by the elbow, removed the force binders and shoved her across the threshold as the door closed practically on her heels. Fallyn stared in utter disbelief.

*****************

Reede’s shoulders ached and his circulation was impaired from having been restrained on the metal rack for so long, but he’d had far worse treatment at the hands of the Khagrish. At least no one was actively poking or prodding him and no one was talking about dissection. He wondered how many more hours this deranged experiment would run today.

When the door opened for the hundredth or maybe the thousandth time—he’d lost count—he kept his eyes fixed firmly on the wall above the portal. He refused to interact in any way and held tight to his determination not to give his tormenters the slightest satisfaction.

This time though an enticing perfume wafted across the room to his nose, a lovely distillation of womanly scent and an oddly floral note, although he was sure whoever had been thrown into the room hadn’t had any access to anything but industrial strength toiletries since arriving at the facility. There was nothing sweet or perfumed available in the labs. Certainly not delicate flowers. He clenched his fists. Not now. This can’t be happening. He’d heard the mated males in the pack talk about how the human woman who was their mate had a unique scent, a spicy or floral note or both, evidently a gift from the goddess to the man alerting him to pay attention. No one else detected the same perfume, if it even existed at all.

There’d been speculation the captivating scent was pheromones, detectable only to one Badari in each case. Or a form of psychic link, mind to mind of the future mates. He hadn’t paid much attention to the discussion, not anticipating ever having a mate, but now was a completely different matter.

His body tightened and pulled against the restraints and the sensors despite his best efforts to remain neutral.  Reede felt his priorities changing inexorably in the presence of the woman who was his potential mate. The mission no longer came first. Desperately he recited the steps contained in a long and boring technical manual under his breath, trying to distract himself from the wave of desire sending all the blood in his body to his groin.

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“What the seven hells is going on here?” Rubbing her wrists to ease the ache from the tight binders, Fallyn stared across the small room at the most magnificent example of naked, semi aroused male she’d ever seen. He was easily seven feet tall, built like a sculpture in perfect proportion, from his handsome face to his broad muscular chest, to the taut abdomen to the generous package between his legs—Fallyn blushed to the roots of her hair, realizing she was essentially ogling him and tried to avert her gaze.

He was gagged, spread eagled on a metal rack that looked painful, and the Khagrish had treated his body like a pincushion, probes and sensors everywhere.

She focused on his face, startled to see his eyes glowing like amber flames as he watched her.

Without conscious thought, she moved forward, approaching him and unbuckling the gag, throwing it to the floor in distaste. “I don’t know what they’re trying to do to you, friend, but this is barbaric.” Fallyn went on tiptoe to fumble with the restraint on his right wrist, rewarded by a loud click as the band opened.

“Free my ankles,” he said in perfect Basic, voice raspy. “I can do the other wrist. The Khagrish won’t give us much time.”

Going to her knees, she did as he asked and freed his legs, doing her best to ignore his nakedness and the suggestive position she was in, scooting back and rising the minute the metal bands opened.

He roared like an apex predator in the wild might, the sound echoing in the room, stepped forward and yanked free of all the sensors and probes. Fallyn gasped as she realized there had been some inserted into his skull. Bleeding from more than a few places, the man turned away from her and from the movement, was removing the sensors which had been attached to his most personal areas.

“What’s going on? Why did the guards bring me in here?” she asked, retreating to the wall. Even as she spoke, she was searching the space for anything usable as a weapon.

“Lady, you won’t believe me when I tell you.” Muscles flexing, he worked on the metal apparatus where he’d been restrained and managed to break free a side strut.

To her amazement he handed the jagged metal piece to her.

Fallyn took it, automatically hefting it to find the most effective way to wield the makeshift weapon. “Don’t you need—?”

“I have my own weaponry.” He flashed huge black talons at her, as big as steak knives, extending from his fingers and she gaped at him. Those scythes sure as hell weren’t there a minute ago. What is this guy?

Depositphotos

REEDE: A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL (SECTORS NEW ALLIES SERIES BOOK 9)

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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