Starry Nights Blog Hop

Starry Nights

Hello everybody! I am literally moving from Alabama to Nevada right now, but there is no way I am going to miss the SFR Brigade's 3rd Annual Blog Hop. Funny, because I was moving during last year's blog hop as well. Oh, the military life. Hopefully there isn't a pattern here... Nah, we'll be in Nevada for a few years, at least, so next year I'll finally be stationary for this very awesome blog hop.

For this year's Starry Nights theme, I have an excerpt from my work in progress Fracture Series. There are a few snippets from this series throughout my blog. My story, 'The Stranger,' that was published in "Tales from the SFR Brigade" is set in the future of this scene. Without further ado:

Alexander Maddox walked into the barn, into a scene that he would never forget, on a night full of scenes that he would never forget. There, pinned against a support beam by none other than Bazin, was the mella; he couldn't remember her name to save his life. Her chest lay open with the same bright burning ball of icy blue fire he'd seen in Bazin's. She was emitting noises that sounded like whimpering and her body was shaking. Bazin was holding her wrists behind her back, his injured leg shaking against her as he struggled to keep his balance. His own chest was open, but, from this angle, Alex couldn't see his core. However, Alex couldn't miss the large humming cannon pointed his way.

"Maddox!" Bazin bellowed. "If you do not get out of here, I will shoot you where you stand!"

Alex backed up, shocked to see a weapon, even more so about the prospect that Bazin would actually shoot him.

But the mella. What was going on? Actual concern for her kept him from going too far. Suddenly, he remembered her name.

"Um, Miaxa?" he swallowed.

"Get out!" they both yelled in unison and Alex could not oblige fast enough.

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Alex ran out of the barn and shut the door, leaning his forehead against it as he couldn't imagine his night getting any crazier.

"What's going on?" Lynn's voice came from behind him, and he jumped high in the air.

"Lynn! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" He raised his head towards the sky, the winking stars surely mocking him.

Lynn ignored him. "I want to meet her."

"You can't right now…um...I think he's about to screw her," Alex stated matter-of-fact.

"What? Can they do that?" Lynn tried peaking through the cracks in the door, apparently ignoring his crude statement in her curiosity.

"I…I don't know, but he threatened to kill me," Alex said excitedly and described what he saw. They went silent as they heard noises coming from within.

"It sounds like he's killing her," Lynn said worriedly. "What should we do?"

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It was Ander who answered the phone. "Alexander Maddox," he exclaimed in greeting. "We have been looking for you. We have been trying to locate Bazin."

"Well, he's here," Alex said and before he could get anything else out…

"He's there? Kelyan was getting worried that the new arrival might be a Skellyd that he couldn't handle, possibly broadcasting a Gathon signal to lure us into a trap. Why didn't he bring him here? Where is he now? We need to speak with him."

A who? Why would they be luring them into a trap?

"That's why I'm calling. I think we need your help. Bazin said the new arrival's name is Miaxa..." and Alex launched into the story of his day and how they are now out in his barn and his concern. Miaxa could be dead already.

There was silence on Ander's end.

After some length, Alex finally asked, "Ander, are you still there?"

Alex heard a whooshing sound and then, "Yes, well, that explains why he has not been answering our calls." Another moment passed, another whooshing sound. "So, why do you need our help?"

"You never said he was armed," Alex said. "He threatened to kill me."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear you say that," Ander commented. "But don't worry. He would never harm any of you."

Alex wasn't really worried about Bazin harming him or his family. He knew Bazin better than any human. It wasn't the threat that worried him; it was the fact that these aliens had weapons. So many questions rose to the surface that he didn't know where to start. Were all of them armed?

"And he's not hurting her, Alexander Maddox," Ander continued, completely oblivious of Alex's inner struggle.

"I keep telling you guys that you can just call me 'Alex.'" With the current circumstances, Alex decided now wasn't the time to push about the weapon.

"He's not hurting her, Alex," Ander repeated. "They are both in considerable pain due to the amount of time they've been separated and they need to join."

"What? What does that mean? Do you mean they're having sex in my barn? My grandfather built that barn!" Of course, he and his wife had defiled it a time or two, but that was beside the point.

"They cannot have sex, Alexander, er, Alex. We are not like organics. We lack the organs for such a function," Ander said. "As far as their reaction upon first contact…That is very interesting."

"Interesting? You mean, you don't even know?" Alex couldn't believe it. Not only did he not understand them, but it seemed there were things they didn't understand about themselves.

"Coremates have never been separated this long before, so it's new to us too. I will record your accounting and then ask them more at another time. But for now, you had probably better give them some space. Those two are about as trigger-happy as a couple of Skellyds."

"Yea, I gathered," Alex retorted. "Are you sure they're not?" There was silence on the other end. "I'm just kidding, Ander. I don't even know what a Ske-lad is."

End Scene.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Since I'm moving, I don't have any prizes to offer. The only thing I can offer right now is a free book, which is always free and also part of all the main prizes: "Tales from the SFR Brigade."  There is no requirement to comment here, but you are definitely welcome to say something if you'd like. Entry to the grand prize is via Rafflecopter below. The prizes this year are amazing!

Thanks again!




　
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal - Tethered

 

 

Blurb:

She can kill with a kiss. But can assassin Tyree also heal one man's grief, and bring peace to a galaxy threatened by war?

For Tyree of the Su, being an assassin isn’t simply something she was trained for. It's the sole reason for her existence. A genetically enhanced clone—one of many in Refuge—she's about to learn her secluded lifestyle, and that of all her kind, is under threat by a race capable of neutralizing their special talents to leave them defenseless.

For Zander D'joren, being a diplomat has not only cost him his appearance, but also the love of his life. Scarred, grieving, he must nonetheless continue in his role as co-delegate to the fearsome Tier-vane or risk a conflict that could only end one way.

Now both of them need to keep each other alive and maintain a perilous deception long enough to renegotiate the treaty with the Tier-vane, or throw their people into a war that could wipe out Terrans and Inc-Su alike. But there's more at stake than humanity, whether true or modified. Can the love growing between them save them both? Or merely hasten their destruction?

A science fiction romance novella, coming from Breathless Press 25^th July.

Add it to your Goodreads shelf HERE.

Sign up to my no-spam newsletter HERE to get early sneak peeks at covers, and news of the latest releases, giveaways and contest.

Excerpt:

A thrill of excitement shivered down her spine as she backed away a few steps with Zander following. He shrugged off his formal outer robes, and for the first time she could appreciate the broad expanse of his chest, the close-fitting fabric stretched over well-defined muscles. It appeared he hadn't allowed his physique to slacken, despite leaving the Galactic Commission.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

Zander spread his hands in an open gesture to say that he was.

So why is he just standing there like a defunct Manikin instead of poised to fight?

Tyree took her combat position and Zander matched her, just as the Manikin had done. She'd never fought a human in combat practice before. This should be interesting.

She sprang forward and aimed two rapid punches at his face. Zander evaded both with a speed and grace totally out of proportion to his bulk. Her third he blocked with little effort, and she stepped back to reassess her strategy. But only for an instant.

A quick step forward and she lashed upward with her foot, snapping his head back. Zander staggered but didn't fall. Her second kick failed as he grabbed her ankle and jerked her off balance. She twisted as she dropped and caught him hard in the knee. Zander collapsed. Both rolled aside, and then jumped up to face each other again.

Not bad.

Tyree bit back a laugh as they exchanged blows, each faster than the last. Zander blocked or evaded most, but not all. His skill almost matched hers, yet his defenses were just a fraction too slow. Each move she made tested his reach, his reflexes and his stamina until she could sense him struggling a little.

Time for the kill.

She floored him with a kick to the chest, the full weight of her augmented density behind it, but as she moved in to finish the fight he dove into her. Tyree landed on her back hard enough to drive the breath from her lungs.

Zander had her pinned to the ground. She bucked but couldn't shift him. The triumphant smile on his face sent rage blazing through her gut. With hardly a whisper, she Misted out and went through him. Golden warmth filled her for a second before she pulled free. Zander pushed to his feet and spun to meet her, but she cranked up her molecular density and punched him hard in the chest. He collapsed, gasping and coughing. In one fluid movement she sat astride him at full density, and the air whumphed out of his lungs. She pinioned his arms with her hands, her face hovering mere centimeters above his.

As her breathing slowed to normal, a huge grin split her face. She'd made a vow to herself to jump him, and she'd done it. Perhaps it was childish, but it warmed her heart.

"Your...reputation...is well deserved," he gasped.

"You're not so bad yourself," she complimented him. He'd fought well, but perhaps not quite with the determination—and certainly not the desperation—of most opponents she'd faced. "For a human."

"Thank you. Perhaps we could try this again tomorrow?"

Tyree laughed. As much as he could irritate the hell out of her, he was equally amusing. "If you want to spend most of your morning on the floor..."

He gazed up at her with that easy smile, making no effort to struggle. Most humans, without the influence of her pheromones and the distraction of her naked body writhing above theirs, would not have been so trusting. So compliant. She found herself staring at his mouth. What would it be like to kiss him, without the use of her talents? Would it be as satisfying? As sensual? The warmth of him, the firmness of his body beneath hers, sent heat spiraling through her abdomen.

"Perhaps you could let me up now?" His words jerked her from such musings. What the hell was she thinking?

Bio:

After spending twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay is now a stay-at-home mum who writes scifi and the supernatural. Somewhere along the way a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moment playing guitar very badly, punishing herself with freestyle street dance, and studying the Dark Side of the Force. Although happily settled in the historical town of Colchester in the UK with her husband of 21 years and three little monsters, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.
 

Pippa Jay is a dedicated member of the Science Fiction Romance Brigade, blogging at Spacefreighters Lounge, Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her works include a YA science fiction novel—Gethyon—published through BURST (Champagne Books), two self-published short stories (Terms & Conditions Apply and The Bones of the Sea), and she's one of eight authors included in a science fiction romance anthology—Tales from the SFR Brigade. She's also a double SFR Galaxy Award winner, been a finalist in the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3^rd place), and the GCC RWA Silken Sands Star Awards (2^nd place).

You can stalk her at her website http://pippajay.co.uk, or at her blog http://pippajay.blogspot.co.uk, but without doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as @pippajaygreen.