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Today, Lokmi is feeling the pressure. They couldn't trap even one Dark on their last attempt. How are they supposed to capture all those infecting the Royal Council?
* * *
*
“Seven,” Lokmi grumbled as he sat next to Hope and studied schematics in the workspace Clan Tranis had given them in their guest suite. “We couldn’t catch one damned Dark, now we’re supposed to trap seven!”
Hope’s warm presence at his side shifted. “We only have to get the containment configuration right once. Do so, and all seven traps will work.”
He could have snapped at her, except she was his heart and his universe. The pressure to capture the barely seen enemy had been intense. Since verifying Ilid’s assertion multiple members of the Royal Council had been overtaken by Darks, the pressure had become crushing. Lokmi felt physically ill thinking of those black blobs perched on the backs and shoulders of fellow Kalquorians, tentacle limbs snaking around their throats.
They’d have to snag the lot at once to ensure the infiltration’s secrecy, as Emperor Bevau wished them to. The failed attempt to capture Hobato’s rider seemed to have gone unnoticed by the rest of the All. If an alarm had gone out among the Darks, there was no evidence of it. The longer Lokmi’s group could quietly trap the invaders intent on subverting the empire, the better.
It meant multiple teams converging on the ridden councilmen, because the seven sat or led major committees guaranteeing the security of the empire. Multiple moving parts meant more chances of the mission going wrong, if it had any hope of going right in the first place.
“My Imdiko.” Hope turned from their work, sliding a slight arm around him. “We’ll do our best. No one can ask more of us. Since we learned where the weak point was on the first attempt, I can zero in my nanos to test the next.”
He pulled in a deep breath, begging calm to find him. “I know. It’s just…I’ve only ever had the empire’s survival riding on my shoulders before. Not the whole of civilization.”
She rewarded his attempt at humor with a chuckle and a kiss. “I believe in you. You won’t fail.”
“It isn’t just us and Clan Tranis this time. More operatives mean additional opportunities for shit to go wrong.”
“It’s okay. Now that we don’t have Hobato hamstringing our work, Tranis is assigning the elite of the spy division to make the mission a success. We will do this.”
He crooked a smile. “Should we change your name to Faith, like your mother?”
She winked and returned to work. Sighing, Lokmi did too.
* * * *
Blythe Nelson is certain Clan Deram is keeping something from her. The clan of spies finds it difficult to stay a step ahead of the wily reporter who’s winning their hearts. What they don’t know is Blythe has a secret of her own. New love can’t survive without trust, and neither side is ready when the truth comes out.
Dramok Ospar, determined to return to the political stage, strikes up a deal with Royal Councilman Oiteil. Unaware he’s dealing with a Dark entity controlling Oiteil, he finds himself fighting for his honor, his relationship with his clan…and his life.
The Kalquorian Empire, already struggling against the Darks infiltrating its highest offices, suffers a new blow when it’s revealed it’s keeping a prisoner from the war against the first Earth: Holy Leader Browning Copeland. The schism between Kalquor and its allies grows deeper, setting the empire against the rest of the galaxy.
As chaos descends on rioting Earther colonies, the Galactic Council of Planets, and Kalquor, a desperate group of humans and Kalquorians race to stop the force behind the turmoil: the Darks. Can they loosen the grip on their worlds the enemy seeks to tighten, or is all lost?
Releasing March 29. Pre-order ebook or buy print now:
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