We're almost there. Just one more day.
Blythe makes one last attempt to keep Earth from Kalquor's throat. You gotta give her points for not running with the big story.
* * * *
Earth II
Blythe rewatched the footage of Copeland for the third time in as many minutes. Thus far, she hadn’t brought it to her supervisor. She had no reason to delay doing so any longer than she had, but every instance she thought she was ready, a vision of Clan Deram interrupted her.
They’d said they were fine with her doing her job. She believed them. The fact remained, she was seeing them under false pretenses. Worse still, exposing Copeland’s survival could drive a wedge between Earth and Kalquor…Kalquor and the entire Galactic Council membership, no less. Thus, it could drive a wedge between her and the men she felt entirely too much for.
It wasn’t supposed to get this far. She’d learned the hard way close relationships were to be avoided. Her father’s death during the Earth-Kalquor war had brought regret and relief in equal measures. Her mother had found it easy to toss her aside when Blythe rejected her plan for them to move to Mercy Colony.
No, she disowned me because I turned my back on Earth’s hideous religion and those who blindly followed it. Blythe had known her mother was among those who thought the sun rose and set simply because the Holy Leader willed it. She hadn’t expected her to cut her one and only child off completely, however.
Blythe’s stomach ached. For an instant, her view of Copeland blurred. Then fury took hold. You bastard. I hope the Kalquorians do have you. I hope they’ve tortured you and your life has been a living hell.
It suddenly seemed imperative to prove he’d suffered. That, more than the desire to be absolutely sure of her story, prompted Blythe to stuff a monitor in her ear and switch on her com. She hit a scrambled frequency no one would be able to trace. A moment later, it was answered.
“Jedver News First Bureau. Retoft speaking.”
“Hi, Rob.” It was what she called her editor…her real editor, located in Galactic Council space…in case anyone in the newsroom overheard her. “It’s Blythe Nelson at Earth’s Global News Bureau.”
“Blythe! Always good to hear from you. How goes purgatory? Do you have something for us?” She could practically hear Retoft rubbing his scaly hands together in anticipation. He’d held her in high esteem since her investigation on Dantovon, to the point he’d drop everything to accommodate her.
“Could be. If it’s legit, it’ll rock the whole damned system.”
“Really? Keep talking.”
“I’ll do better. I’ll send you what I received from an anonymous source. My analysis says it’s legit beyond reasonable doubt, but I need you to inspect the vid footage. Take it apart and test it until it screams.”
“Authentication is our calling card. Transmitting the channel for you to send it through.”
She did so, smiling slightly. The route the vid would take to reach Jedver News First was one-use. It blinked off the instant the footage arrived on Retoft’s computer, never to be seen again.
“Got it. I’ll let you know as soon as we debunk or confirm.” The glee in his tone changed to concern. “Are you okay? It isn’t too awful there among the Earthtiques, is it?”
“No worse than anywhere else I’ve been.” That was true, even if her personal situation confused the hell out of her. “Make it quick on the vid, okay? If it’s the real deal, serious shit you haven’t seen since Kalquor’s civil war is about to go down.”
“Will do. Take care.”
* * * *
* * * *
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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