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, after the ‘fight’ with the klixta worms:

In the dressing room, gladiators congratulated him profanely on his ‘win’ as they disrobed and cleaned their weapons from their own bouts. He responded in kind and headed for the refresher chamber, which his status entitled him to use rather than the communal showers.

Erment intercepted him. “You did a nice job today. Thanks for putting all the effort into it just for the bored lower tier rats.”

“If I set foot on the sand, I do my best,” he said, curious as to why the master was here at all.

“You’ve been requested for an audience,” Erment said, lowering his voice. “In the special office.”

A surge of hope spun through his mind, quickly pushed away. Elara would never be so indiscreet. Being in the stadium today was a risk for her after the unsavory events of the prior evening. Probably some overawed young scion of a House wanting private lessons will be waiting for me. Erment was practically incapable of turning down the chance to make a credit from services provided by any of his gladiators, no matter what the client wanted the man to do. “All right, let me shower and change. I’ve got the damn klixta sap all over.”

Shaking his head, Erment handed him a wash rag. “No time. She said immediately. Wipe yourself off and come on.” The master reached out and snagged a fresh scarlet cloak from a hook on the wall. “Wear this and you’ll be fine. She didn’t ask for or pay for skin privileges.”

As he was rushed across the huge space to the visitors’ office, Kyden couldn’t decide between being insulted on Elara’s behalf that Erment even considered she might lower herself to ask for a quick sexual encounter, or disappointed for himself. He’d dreamt of her…..

VS Note: What does Elara want?

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?

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo      Nook      GooglePlay

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: As promised, I’ve jumped ahead to the first arena scene, which is the next day. Kyden had to volunteer to fight in order to save Elara and her sister the night before.

Today Kyden was to fight with his own natural weaponry, the fangs and talons his creators had given him. He expected to walk through the bout. Midweek fights were cheap seats only, far below being a full audience, mostly practice for the less experienced men rather than serious contests, although the points won or lost did go onto each gladiator’s account and his standing in the system-wide ranking.

Kyden could recline in the middle of the damn arena and take a nap and his points total would barely move because he had such an unthinkable number of wins. There hadn’t been time for his owner to advertise the fact he was fighting either, much to the master’s chagrin.

He walked into the arena at the end of the line of gladiators and briefly scanned the crowd. Or should he say the few people scattered in the cheap seats? They were the lucky ones today, getting to see the Death Dealer in action unexpectedly. When he did fight in prime time, the prices were exorbitant and the scalpers made huge profits.

The trumpets blared and the ceremony began. Kyden pivoted smartly with the others and saluted the empty Emperor’s box. To his knowledge, the ruler of the Five Systems had never graced their stadium with his presence. He didn’t even live in the solar systems he ruled, preferring to dwell in hedonistic style in the Outlier Empire, being related to the ruling house there in some complicated genealogy. But the ritual must be carried out and Kyden uttered his oath to the empty throne with all the others standing in a line beside him, mouthing the same words about fighting for the glory of the throne and the Five Systems and pledging to die bravely. The trumpets blared again and he made a quarter turn as required, to repeat a lesser oath to the equally empty Senatorial seats.

Only to blink and do a double take at the sight of Lady Elara Vasclavian, dressed in the formal robes of her House, occupying the family’s box along with a number of retainers and others.

VS Note: Lady Elara isn’t a fan of gladiatorial contests and hasn’t attended them previously…

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?

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo      Nook      GooglePlay

My recent Tiktok video with images relating to the novel:  https://www.tiktok.com/@veronicascottauthor/video/7051540172722294022

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, from the beginning of the book, after Kyden went to investigate an outcry in the gladiators’ assembly room and found two women who say their presence is a mistake. He takes the girls to his cell. As the top gladiator in the Five Systems, he has more of a room than most and a private bathroom. Continuing on from last week:

“Stand aside, barbarian,” said the officer in charge. “Or be shot. And if you’ve touched a hair on the heads of the senator’s daughters, you’ll wish you’d never been born.”

I wasn’t born—I was created in a lab. With wry amusement, Kyden raised his hands to show he intended no resistance and allowed the security troops to shove him against the wall and hold him there at gunpoint. He could have killed all of them with ease but he recognized the insignia of the Vasclavian House on the uniforms and Elara wasn’t acting upset.

Although she was reading the officer the riot act for mistreating him.

“This man saved my sister and me from injury tonight,” she said fast and furiously, shaking her finger in the officer’s face so hard he retreated a step. “How dare you allow your guards to rough him up?”

“Lady Elara, doubtless the ruffian had his own unsavory plans for you,” the officer said. “None of these people can be trusted.”

Kyden heard Erment’s voice from the hall. “My Death Dealer is an honorable man. If he came to the aid of the ladies he’s to be commended although I don’t understand why they were here at all tonight. If you wanted a tour of the facility, my lady, it could have been arranged quite easily for a more appropriate time.”

Clever Erment, giving them all an out. Kyden admired his owner’s quick thinking but then Erment was a weasel-like character, quick on his feet.

The security officer was agreeing now, taking the Gladiator Master’s lead. “Yes, a huge misunderstanding. I’m sure the Senator will appreciate your staff having accommodated the unusual request. But of course we won’t speak of it further, will we?”

This last was addressed to Kyden, still being held against the wall with blaster barrels pressed into his back. He chose to remain silent although he wished desperately to turn around and have one more glimpse of Elara as she walked out of his life again, leaving it and him in a shambles.

VS: Next week we’ll jump ahead to the arena…

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?

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo      Nook      GooglePlay

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 switching to my new release KYDEN: BADARI GLADIATORS SERIES BOOK ONE.

The excerpt, from the beginning of the book, after Kyden went to investigate an outcry in the gladiators’ assembly room and found two women who say their presence is a mistake. He takes the girls to his cell. As the top gladiator in the Five Systems, he has more of a room than most and a private bathroom. (In a part I skipped over, Kyden had appeased the other gladiators by agreeing to pay for the drinks all night.) Continuing on from last week where Elara asked if he could just let them go.

Sorry to dash her hopes, he shook his head. “I can’t. The quarters are locked while the whores are here, mostly to keep them from escaping. Typically each one owes Big Lorena a debt or else she owns them outright and she’s short on trust. The gates open at dawn. I’ll keep you safe till then.”

“I—I’m grateful. My father will reimburse you for whatever the expenses are. For the feelgoods, that horrible man is buying on your account right now.”

“No need. I can cover it. I do want to hear the story, however. I guess the explanation is my price for saving the two of you.” He grinned.

Lady Elara shook her head and patted her sister’s shoulder. “This foolish one thought it would be a fun lark to sneak into the gladiator hall and see the men up close who she’s admired from afar. There were some she had crushes on. She was to come with a group of her so-called friends who swore they’d done this before. Apparently she was told it was like a huge party.”

Appalled at the naiveté on display, Kyden shook his head. “As you’ve seen, gladiators can be as dangerous in close quarters as they are in the arena. All the nobility of the fighter crap is just that—bullshit.”

Tilting her head, Elara studied him. “And you’re the exception then?”

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?

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo      Nook      GooglePlay

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 switching to my new release KYDEN: BADARI GLADIATORS SERIES BOOK ONE.

The excerpt, from the beginning of the book, after Kyden went to investigate an outcry in the gladiators’ assembly room and found two women who say their presence is a mistake. He takes the girls to his cell. As the top gladiator in the Five Systems, he has more of a room than most and a private bathroom. The younger girl is quite ill. I’ve skipped ahead a bit.

He sat at his desk, in the one chair, which was sized for his massive seven foot, three hundred pound frame and drummed his talons on the desk, pondering what to do next. The medics were off duty at night and didn’t tend to Big Lorena’s women anyway although he supposed he could bribe his friend Macuse to come. But did he want an arena medic touching a Senator’s daughter? Best to wait and see.

The two women made a slow re-entry into the main room and the senior sister basically carried the other to the bed, which was neatly made, Kyden watched as the thin, wan girl laid down on top of his navy blue blanket, as if not caring where she was. At least she’d stopped weeping. The older sister was clearly uncomfortable.

“I gave you my word,” Kyden said, guessing more reassurance was needed. For all her outward calm, this woman was badly shaken as well. “I’ll not touch either of you. I would like to know who you are and how you got into this mess.” He studied her as she tucked her sister in under the fur throw he’d purchased on a whim once, enjoying the way she took such good care of the other, who seemed to be an older teenager.

“I’m Lady Elara Vasclavian and this is my foolish sister Diandre.” She smoothed the hair away from the girl’s face and sat on the end of the bed. “Thank you for rescuing us from those awful men. I don’t suppose you’ll simply let us leave?”

VS: And what will Kyden say? But it’s never that simple…more next week.

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?

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo      Nook      GooglePlay

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 switching to my new release KYDEN: BADARI GLADIATORS SERIES BOOK ONE.

The excerpt, from the beginning of the book, when Kyden has gone to investigate an outcry in the gladiators’ assembly room:

“What’s going on?” he asked, hooking his thumb at the rowdy group of men at the other end of the room.

“I guess a couple of Big Lorena’s newest girls changed their minds about their chosen profession once they got up-and-personal with an actual gladiator,” Benet said as his woman toyed with the fastenings of his shirt and gave Kyden a reproachful glare for disturbing them. “Now the women are trying to escape by claiming it’s all a mistake and they’re not supposed to be here. If Big L sends a woman, we both know she’s where she’s supposed to be. And they stay till dawn. So Jadaxus ain’t having any of this maidenly reluctance.”

Being seven feet tall, Kyden had no problem seeing over the heads of the men between himself and the two women at the center of the controversy. The older, taller woman was in her late twenties, maybe early thirties as this world counted time and dressed plainly but in clothes which proclaimed expensive good taste by their subdued cut and elegant tailoring. Hardly the garb of the usual whore sent to the gladiators. She was flushed, hair disheveled, displaying a rapidly bruising cheek, striking at gladiators who ventured too close to her or the much younger woman cowering behind her.

The younger one was dressed like the courtesans Big Lorena sent to service the gladiators, but her clothing seemed too fine, like a costume rather than the robes of an actual whore. She was younger than the other by at least a decade, weeping and plainly terrified.

It was clear to Kyden neither woman belonged here but it was far too late for them to leave. As Benet said, once the women had been delivered to the Gladiatorial Hall, none were allowed to depart until dawn. Erment the gladiators’ owner wanted his money’s worth and he wanted his men fully satisfied when they sallied forth to fight. Big L didn’t want any of her chattel to escape.

VS: So what will Kyden do next?

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?

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo      Nook      GooglePlay