Governor Stacy Nichols loves her promised clan, but she’s still very much her own woman.
“You signed up for the vaccine trial?”
Stacy winced at Kuran’s explosive shout. She’d anticipated he’d react the strongest. As a Nobek warrior, her bodyguard, and her promised clanmate, he was exuberantly protective. Dark Death was beyond his ability to defend her, however, save keeping her as far from the virus as possible.
Rihep and Etnil, sitting with them at the dining table where they were eating dinner after a long day, looked unhappy as well. Rihep’s tone was tense, but calm. “I realize we aren’t clanmates yet, but it would have been nice to be consulted before you made such a momentous decision.”
“How can I not participate in the process?” Her voice was soft, but she allowed no apology to color it. “The scientists are asking for volunteers. As a Dramok, you understand a leader isn’t above his or her people. We serve them by accepting the risks we ask them to take.”
“You feel guilty for Toni getting sick while you stayed safe on the station.”
“Of course I do. But it has no bearing on my choice in the matter.” Maybe. Stacy had counted up the reasons to be part of the trials and had found many to shield her from the possibility she was acting out of self-reproach. “Rihep, I have to return to Earth to govern. This is also the best opportunity I’ll get to quiet the Earthtiques’ objections to the vaccine.”
Kuran growled softly. “I feared their opposition to the vaccine before it’s even ready would push you to do something like this.”
“Toni was one of the few who survived the extreme version of Dark Death. We have the same genes, so I’ll probably do better than most test subjects.”
“That isn’t sound logic, and you know it,” Rihep pointed out. “There’s a lot more to it than genetics. You’re putting your health…your life on the line. Some of the side effects computer simulations showed were profound.”
“In the earliest versions, yes. I’m aware. I’ve been given updates from the research teams as they’ve happened, and the latest adaptation had no lethal results. It’s already gone through two earlier groups of test subjects, and no one died from them.”
“Longterm quality of life issues are still concerning.”
“Those are rare. Two out of three hundred people are good odds, greater than you’d get anywhere in Dantovon’s gaming houses.”
“Your health isn’t a game.” Kuran wasn’t shouting, but he was loud.
“Neither is the survival of my people.” She looked at each man levelly, ending at Kuran. “It’s my choice. I love you guys, and I accept this upsets you, but I’m doing it. Any attempt to stop me won’t be welcome.”
* * * *
Pre-order Now! Ebook releases August 8
Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo
Print version and link will be available August 1
Victories against invasion have been won, but the galaxy may be lost in the end.
There may be no escape from the All’s extermination plans for the dimension. Emperor Clajak has one last card up his sleeve, however: a band of misfit renegade Kalquorians called the Coydidak. Only with their help and an impossible mission to beyond the known reaches of the universe can Kalquor hope to preserve life.
A determined engineer is at the top of the list of Coydidak leader Dramok Rorix’s least favorite humans. She’ll stop at nothing to board his ship for a one-way voyage that’s to last a lifetime. Is ultimate freedom from the empire worth dealing with the beautiful but unrelenting Laughter Lorenz?
As the clock ticks to the end of Dr. Cassidy Hamilton’s pregnancy and potentially life in the dimension, she works feverishly to find a way to destroy the All. A visit from an undiscovered entity brings to light her greatest hope and worst fear. Only time will tell if this new being is friend or foe…but Cassidy’s time and that of her soon-to-be-born child is almost up.
Adventure. Danger. Intrigue. Romance that outburns the sun in any galaxy. It’s all here in the sixth installment of the Dark Empire series.
Pre-order Now! Ebook releases August 8
Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo
Print version and link will be available August 1
