I'm posting another excerpt from the third book in the Destiny Trilogy, the award winning 'Beloved Enemy', which will soon be joining the first two books Starquest and Children of the Mist as an audio book, as well as in eBook and paperback. Each book has a hero and heroine with there own 'happy ever after' but each story features some of the same characters and a link to
the starship Destiny
“The name suits you.” It did not sound like a compliment. “I am Kerry Marchant.”
“Yes, I know who you are.” She ignored his quizzical look. “As I said earlier, don’t get any ideas. This ‘cat’ has claws.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
She activated the small cleansing unit housed in an alcove set into the bulkhead and ran her hands through the antiseptic mist. “How’s the shoulder? D’you want
me to look at it?”
“No need. The regenerator seems to have done its job.” He unclipped his pack and withdrew a compressed black garment. “Is there somewhere I can clean up and change my tunic?”
“Help yourself. There’s a washroom back there,” she said, indicating a small door behind him. While he was occupied, she went to the storage unit and removed a metal container. Taking another vessel, she poured water from it into the first, and tipped the resulting reconstituted raw meat on a large plate she placed on the floor. Shifter stuck his nose in it and gulped it down in several mouthfuls, without pausing for breath, before drinking from the bowl of water she placed before him.
After a few minutes, Kerry reappeared, having replaced his ruined shirt. He regarded the chameleopard with an expression of curiosity on his face.
“Interesting animal. Where did you get him?”
“I found him on a small planet in the Andromeda system. He’d been bred for fighting. I don’t agree with keeping animals to kill each other, so I fought his owner for him. Fed properly and treated well he’s actually quite docile—unless he feels he has to protect me.”
Those cold eyes betrayed nothing, but he looked at her as if not sure whether to believe her.
“I suppose you’re hungry too. It’s only normal ship’s survival rations, but they’ll keep us going for a while.”
“Then that will have to do.”
Of all the ungrateful…She turned to the dispenser unit and, for a split second, dropped her guard. In the same instant, she felt an arm whip around her throat.
“Yes, I know who you are.” She ignored his quizzical look. “As I said earlier, don’t get any ideas. This ‘cat’ has claws.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
She activated the small cleansing unit housed in an alcove set into the bulkhead and ran her hands through the antiseptic mist. “How’s the shoulder? D’you want
me to look at it?”
“No need. The regenerator seems to have done its job.” He unclipped his pack and withdrew a compressed black garment. “Is there somewhere I can clean up and change my tunic?”
“Help yourself. There’s a washroom back there,” she said, indicating a small door behind him. While he was occupied, she went to the storage unit and removed a metal container. Taking another vessel, she poured water from it into the first, and tipped the resulting reconstituted raw meat on a large plate she placed on the floor. Shifter stuck his nose in it and gulped it down in several mouthfuls, without pausing for breath, before drinking from the bowl of water she placed before him.
After a few minutes, Kerry reappeared, having replaced his ruined shirt. He regarded the chameleopard with an expression of curiosity on his face.
“Interesting animal. Where did you get him?”
“I found him on a small planet in the Andromeda system. He’d been bred for fighting. I don’t agree with keeping animals to kill each other, so I fought his owner for him. Fed properly and treated well he’s actually quite docile—unless he feels he has to protect me.”
Those cold eyes betrayed nothing, but he looked at her as if not sure whether to believe her.
“I suppose you’re hungry too. It’s only normal ship’s survival rations, but they’ll keep us going for a while.”
“Then that will have to do.”
Of all the ungrateful…She turned to the dispenser unit and, for a split second, dropped her guard. In the same instant, she felt an arm whip around her throat.
BLURB
Cat Kincaid is obsessed with killing the man she believes is responsible for the torture and death of her sister, but when she eventually catches up with him, survival becomes a greater priority than revenge.
Kerry Marchant, haunted by memories, regret, and self-blame, shields himself from the pain of the past by committing himself totally to the starship, Destiny, of which he is part owner. However, the beautiful, red-haired woman who reminds him of his lost love, and who he suspects is working for a corrupt regime, represents a possible threat not only to the ship, but to his heart.
Marooned on an inhospitable planet, they need to work together to stay alive, fighting not only unknown assailants, but their growing attraction. But how can they learn to trust each other when he has vowed never to get close to a woman again, and she made a solemn pledge to destroy him?
Amazon US:
http://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Enemy-Destiny-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B01BBCBYCS
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01BBCBYCS
All three books in the Destiny Trilogy can be found on my Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B002BMBXH4
Please don't forget to visit the blogs below for more 'book hooks'.
love the leopard. hope to see more of him.
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen. I have to say everyone who's read the book seems to take a shine to Shifter - he is a character in his own right. :)
ReplyDeleteReally interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks Janet!
ReplyDeleteHer use of the cameleopard is interesting. Unless I'm much mistaken, she's using it to warn him to behave.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ed - you're quite right, unfortunately it doesn't seem to have had the required effect! :)
ReplyDeleteI hope Shifter's fighting instincts kick in fast. Love the setup of the two main characters.
ReplyDeleteJQ Rose
Thanks JQ - these two (and Shifter) were such fun to write.
DeleteI agree with J. Q. Rose and hope that Shifter's protective instincts enforce the heroine's hint to keep his hands to himself.
ReplyDeleteThanks HHP - although Shifter's assistance might not actually be needed, Cat is pretty good at looking after herself most of the time!LOL
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