DANGER IN THE STARS is the second book in my alien empath series (but they’re all standalone). I’ve been fascinated by the concept of alien empaths ever since I saw “The Empath” episode of the orginal Star Trek series. This book is of course my take on it and I was also excited to bring my interstellar mob more into view and give more detail about both the Shemdylann and the Mawreg enemies of the Sectors, which readers had been asking me for.

In this scene, which is kind of heart wrenching, Mirielle has managed to escape her mob handler Jareck and is trying to save herself from captivity. The mob has made her wear a necklace with an explosive inside to ensure her co-operation. She’s from a medieval world outside the Sectors so her understanding of  ‘modern life’ is spotty.

The excerpt (Opherra is the local crime boss and Conor is her enforcer):

“Housekeeping,” the intruder said with a cheery lilt. “Someone called for more towels. Apologies for disturbing you, miss. I didn’t realize the room was already occupied, but the door was unlocked, so—”

Miriell rose to her feet. “It’s not a problem. Please, go ahead.” She waved one hand toward the bedroom. Presumably, the bathroom was beyond.

Arms full of fluffy towels, the maid nodded and crossed the elaborately patterned carpet.

Taking one tentative step toward the still open door, Miriell glanced in the direction the woman had gone. She heard Jareck asking the maid a question, something about room service. Could it be this easy? After four years, is freedom so close? If I can get far enough away from Jareck, he won’t be able to use the explosive device. Stumbling from fear and anxiety, she ran to the door and slipped into the corridor. Fortunately, the hall was empty. Hugging the wall, Miriell searched for alternate exits but saw only the gravlift, so she forced herself to run to it. She slammed her hand on the panel, and the portal opened smoothly. Not giving herself time to be frightened, she leaped into the grav stream and let it carry her downward as above her the door closed again. How long would she have before Jareck realized she’d fled?

When she reached the lower floors of the hotel, other people were in the tube, apparently prevented somehow from ascending to the penthouse but able to use the gravlift unhindered below a certain level. For the most part, the other guests ignored her, although excitement and terror made her clumsy, and she bumped into several. She exited at the lobby along with a group of excitedly chattering tourists, human and nonhuman sentients, all babbling about the temple ruins on their itinerary for the day’s trip. Scurrying in their wake through the crowded entrance hall, she hoped a casual observer would think her part of the group.

The outer doors opened at her approach, and a burst of adrenaline propelled her onto the sidewalk in a rush, jostling a couple who’d paused to check their AI’s. Murmuring an apology, she stepped away. Which way? What now? Frantic, she set off to the left toward what appeared to be a main street with heavy groundcar traffic.  The necklace bobbed around her neck as she ran. No one had ever told her what the range of the controller was but the more distance she put between herself and Jareck, the more hopeful she felt. And the police the Amarotu were always talking about with loathing would be able to remove it, wouldn’t they?

Reaching the thoroughfare, Miriell stopped in confusion. There were so many people and so many vehicles. How did one find these police?

“Excuse me—” She tried to stop one of the hurrying citizens, but he shrugged her off and shouldered past, as did the next person.

Changing tactics, Miriell approached a woman waiting with two small children to cross the street. “How do I find the police?”

“Now, darling, no need for involving the cops. The authorities have better things to do.” The deep voice swirled around her as Conor hauled her in, not ungently, and held her close in a parody of affectionate care.  His arms were like steel around her, his muscles unyielding. “I told you, the hotel will be able to take care of the problem.”

Pushing against him in frustration, Miriell swore at Conor in her own language. To be so close to escaping…

Mouth open, the woman was staring at them. As her children tugged at her hands, she said directly to Miriell, “Are you all right?”

“My wife’s fine,” Conor answered smoothly. “Aren’t you, honey? We just arrived today. She gets disoriented a bit by cryo sleep.  Waking dreams for the first day or so. You know how it is, I’m sure. I’ll get her back to the hotel, get some nice hot tea into her, and she’ll be herself again, good as ever. Thanks for your concern.”

Conor’s grip was now crushing her elbow. Miriell nodded, fighting back tears. “I’m sorry to have bothered you. I hope I didn’t frighten the children.”

Uncertain, hesitant, the woman scooped up her smaller child, tightened her grip on the other and sprinted across the street as the traffic paused in obedience to signals Miriell didn’t see.

“Not your smartest move,” Conor said in a low voice as he pulled Miriell away, retreating toward the hotel. “We have to get you back to the room before Opherra learns you escaped. Her punishments tend to be swift and harsh. Fortunately, she’s addicted to long baths, so we have a window of opportunity.”

“Please—” She knew there was no mercy to be had from an Amarotu soldier, but it was heartbreaking to come so close to escaping the nightmare her life had become. She sagged in his hold as her knees weakened. “I’m nothing to you. Let me go, I beg you.”

He shook his head, gripping her arm more tightly as he pulled her along. “You’re part of my boss’s operation. It’s my job to secure her assets and watch her back. Can’t have you picked up by the police. When I realized you were in the lobby by yourself, I called the room and told Jareck to let me handle it. He won’t trigger the necklace, don’t worry. But if you aren’t under his control by the time Opherra becomes aware of the breach, she’ll order your death, likely as not.”  He glanced at her. “Haven’t you ever heard where there’s life, there’s hope? My advice is live to fight another day.”

“Not for such as me. Hope fled a long time ago.” She shook her head, angrily brushing at her tears with her free hand. Belatedly, she tried to summon her power, to break free of this man and run, but she was too upset to find the necessary inner calm, and only flickers answered her call. Conor marched her through the lobby and into the gravlift, intimidating an elderly couple who tried to enter when he did. He took her aloft so rapidly that Miriell had a hard time breathing.

“By the way, for future reference, many of the local police are on the Amarotu payroll.” As they entered the hall and headed toward the room, he added in a low voice, “I’ll swear you didn’t talk to anyone. Otherwise, you’re on your own.”

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DANGER IN THE STARS by Veronica Scott

Miriell, a powerful empathic priestess, has been kidnapped from her own primitive planet along with a number of her people, and sold to the evil Amarotu Combine, largest organized crime syndicate in the Sectors. When she and her handler are sent to use her power to commit an assassination, she must leave behind her own sister as hostage to ensure her compliance. Miriell cannot ask for aid without endangering herself and others.

Despite his best efforts, Combine enforcer Conor Stewart is entranced by Miriell, and helps her evade the worst of brutal treatment from the rest of the mob. But Conor must keep his distance, before the lovely empath learns that he has secrets of his own–secrets that could get them both killed.

The situation becomes dire when Conor and Miriell come to the attention of both the Combine overlords and the deadly Mawreg, aliens who threaten the Sectors. Can she save herself and the Mawreg’s next victims? And will Conor help her, or remain loyal to his evil bosses?

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