Forged in Fire
Bringer of Chaos Book 2
by Kayelle Allen
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
Immortals may heal, but a wound of the heart lasts forever...
When the immortal Pietas is marooned on a barren world with no food and few survival tools, he knows it could be worse. He could be alone. But that's the problem. He's not.
Half a million of his people sleep in cryostasis, trapped inside their pods and it's up to Pietas to free them. He can't release one at a time. It's all or nothing. He's facing over five hundred thousand hungry, thirsty, homeless immortals who will call on him for rescue and he has no way to answer.
It's not all bad. The beautiful telepathic warrior he's loved for lifetimes is at his side. He's bonded with a sentient panther. He hates humans but the one dumped on this planet with him has become a trusted friend.
Before Pietas can build shelter, figure out how to grow food, or set up a government, he must take back command from a ruthless enemy he's fought for centuries. His brutal, merciless father.
Immortals may heal, but a wound of the heart lasts forever...
"WARNING"
Contains humor, sweet romance, betrayal, angst, vengeance... and a ginormous, sentient black panther who wants to be Pietas's "kitty."
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In this scene from Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire by Kayelle Allen, we get a peek at the weird weather on the alien world, Sempervia. Like Earth, it's dangerous to be out in a storm. When a mini-tornado wreaks havoc, Pietas finds himself in an awkward situation.
The sky turned tornado-green. A few fat drops of rain slid down Pietas's neck, leaving a cold trail in the heat. A few others smacked his hair and face. These scouts warned of the threatening army advancing. Higher up, ominous thunderclouds glowed a menacing pink and orange.
He and the rescue party picked up the pace. In the distance, the oncoming storm blackened the sky. The wind whistled, calling its dogs to hunt.
Icy fingers dragged down his spine. Pietas swallowed, fighting back bile.
The hill they'd crested led down to a jagged claw-rip of darkness, a slash in the velvet forest forming a lightless, foreboding tunnel. The coffin-shaped slice emptied into an abyss of shadow, swallowing every indication of depth and life.
Despite knowing he needed to hurry, Pietas slowed his step, dragging his bare feet through straw-colored grass. Once they reached the camp, he'd be back in his old life. Turning in a slow circle, he held out his arms as high as his injured shoulders permitted and lifted his face to the cloud-covered sun, a child wanting one more minute outdoors before bedtime. He cherished the open air and light, unwilling to relinquish the beauty of his freedom.
"Pietas!" Joss called to him. She'd gotten far ahead. "Come on!"
He started toward her. The forest maw ratcheted open. An unhinged jaw of a snake. An uneven patch of ground beneath a foot cost him his balance. Pietas stumbled, tripped, and threw out his hands to break his fall. He landed on hands and knees and then sat, cross-legged. His scraped palms stung and bled. A potent swear word flew to mind, but he denied it voice.
Dessy slowed as she passed, but his sister didn't speak. If an Ultra did not ask for help, none was offered.
The twins, however, tasked with guarding the party, did stop. Aid was their duty.
"Guys." Six stooped next to him. "You go ahead. I'll stay with Pi."
Pietas flicked his fingers. Without a response, the twins joined Dessy.
Joss looked up and around at the sky. "Pietas, I'll wait for you."
"No, go ahead. The rain's almost here. I'll join you under the trees."
When she had gone, he examined his palms. The injury had healed.
"How's the ankle?"
"Fine." He wiped off his hands.
His friend studied him, glanced toward the forest. "Gotcha." He stood.
When Pietas shifted to rise, Six offered a hand.
"Thanks, but I can manage." He stood and brushed himself off.
The wind picked that moment to set a dust devil whirling into the sand and dried grasses around them. It flew up, stinging exposed skin.
Six covered his eyes. "Oh, man!"
Pietas shielded his own. The whirlwind ripped the cloth tie holding back his hair and whipped strands into his face. He tried facing into the wind, but the circular current spun the tresses back into his eyes. As fast as it had risen, the wind subsided.
Full of static electricity from the wind and storm, his long hair settled over his shoulders and adhered to his neck.
Six dug into his pockets. "I have another strip." They had torn several from a ragged shirt. Six wore the biggest piece around his neck. He set down his pack and opened it.
"Six," Pietas hissed. He did not turn his head, but looked toward the others. "Leave it!"
His friend glanced up at him, then the other immortals, waiting ahead. "You want the women messing with your hair? Is that it?"
He closed his eyes, counting to ten. To a hundred would not erase this embarrassment. "No." When he beheld Six, the man had the discourtesy to smirk. "Don't look at me in that tone of voice."
Kayelle Allen did a tour in the US Navy, where she climbed around airplanes (on the ground, thankfully) fixing black boxes that helped pilots find their way home.
She wrote her first science fiction novel at 18 and to this day, it's hidden under the bed, where she vows it will remain. Gems from it, however, launched several series in her galaxy-wide universe of stories.
From childhood, Kayelle was the victim of an overactive imagination and inherited the Irish gift of gab from her mother. From her father, she got a healthy respect for mechanical things.
No wonder she writes Science Fiction and Fantasy peopled with misbehaving robots, mythic heroes, role playing immortal gamers, and warriors who purr. She's been married so long she's tenured.
1 comments:
Thank you for sharing my immortal king's journey. :)
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