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."
**FREE
from 3/23 – 3/27!!**
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."
In this scene from Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire, Pietas manages a rendezvous with Joss. The immortal king is careful to get all his questions answered before proceeding. This man leaves nothing to chance. But Joss, his beautiful mentor, distracts him.
Joss unfastened her hair, let it fall around her shoulders and shook it loose. The blond waves caught the fading light and gave her the soft glow of a goddess, as feminine and powerful as if she radiated sunlight. She combed her fingers through it, giving him an odd look.
Pietas coughed. "Um... What's up?"
She gestured to herself. "You're asking me 'what's up'?"
What had he missed? "Yes. Why?"
"Because I asked you what was up, and you just stared at me."
"I did? Sorry. I was lost in thought."
"I see." Her coy smile said she did indeed. "So, Pietas, what's up?"
Now she was teasing him with double meanings and ambiguities. He'd love to join her in play, but until he'd learned what he needed, he ignored the temptation.
"Dessy says you're in charge of camp security."
"True."
"Has Mahikos returned, or attempted to?"
"No. I've kept a close watch. The twins reported no sightings. Your father's laying low." She pulled back her hair and fastened it again. "But we're not the sole source of security. I don't see him getting past them."
"Them? Who is 'them'?"
"I'll show you." She motioned for him to come with her. "Look over there."
On a promontory overlooking the pods, a panther sat beside a bare tree, scanning the area.
"You're referring to the cat?"
"Yes. Now look over there." She pointed in the other direction. On that side, another cat prowled beneath a tree on the trail leading to the pods. "They've been there all day. They switch every few hours. Every time they do, the big one that attacked Mahikos stands on the edge of the caldera where you first saw the pods. After the cats change places, it goes away. It's the changing of the guard. I can see what they're doing and I'm grateful for it, but they're so intelligent it scares me. They bump noses and then take up the position of the cat they're replacing. I think they might be telepathic, but with each other, not me. I don't pick up anything."
"They've done this all day?"
"Like clockwork. You know what this means, don't you?"
"Yes. I can get some sleep tonight." A yawn overtook him.
"I was going to say we should name them."
Pietas nudged his chin toward a cat. "We'll call that one Trouble."
Laughing, Joss poked him in the shoulder, but then kissed the spot. They stood eye-to-eye. "Pietas, I've missed you more than you'll ever know. We've been friends, lovers, partners, warriors. We've done everything together. When you weren't here..." Tears filled her eyes.
"Shh. I know. But I'm here now."
The shriek of a bird pierced the gathering dusk. They both turned, seeking the source. Above them on the caldera rim, the silhouette of a panther darkened the sky. The eyes reflected flashes of green fire. Beyond, a sprinkle of stars announced the oncoming night.
Pietas held Joss while darkness settled over the camp and the cry of night birds rose. Off through the grasses, a shapeless form moved. Green eyes glowed in the dim light and then vanished. Golden eyes took their place.
He toyed with one of her buttons. "When are you off duty?"
"I'm off now. I came out here to check on things once more before dark. Are you ready for a private lesson in how to shield?"
"I'm ready for a private lesson in anything you want to teach me."
"Oh, good." With a smile, Joss tangled her fingers in his hair. "Let's start with a memory test."
"A what?" He raised one eyebrow. "I remember everything. You know that."
"Yes, I do." She brushed hair back from his face and then touched his chin dimple. "But do you remember how I like being kissed?"
In this scene, Pietas has been playing with his panther, a huge animal he calls Tiklaus. The name means "Loyal Warrior."
Tiklaus batted at him, knocked Pietas onto his back and then flipped itself down beside him. The panther wrapped its front legs around his arm and gnawed at it in gentle play while the hind feet kicked him without injury. Claws flashed, but did no harm.
Now I know how a chew toy feels. Pietas blew out a breath.
When the panther draped itself over his chest, Pietas struggled to slide out from under but could not get up. The animal weighed less than he did, but with no visible effort, it kept him from rising.
"I concede, my friend. You win."
The panther ignored him.
"Tiklaus, off."
Nothing.
"Off, please."
The panther yawned, opening a huge maw. Fangs flashed.
Pietas tried a signal that worked with sparring partners and asked for release by double-tapping the panther's side.
The cat stood at once and stepped over him. It shook from nose to tail, then sat and groomed itself.
He stood and brushed himself off. Standing beside Tiklaus, who reached him mid-thigh, Pietas took pride in knowing this sweet, playful cat was also the snarling ball of animal rage that had nailed his father to the ground. The man had not seen it coming.
He should have let the cat eat him when he had the chance.
Pietas ensured no one was on the path in either direction before he knelt and scratched the cat's ears. "Who's a good kitty?"
The animal sneaked in a lick of his hand and face and flopped down on its back.
"My Tiklaus, that's who. Tiklaus is a good kitty." He rubbed the smooth belly. "Yes, you are! Such a good, big kitty. You're my kitty, aren't you? Good, good kitty."
The panther accepted the attention, one paw twitching. After a moment, it stood and shook itself. A purring sound rumbled from its chest. It sat, licked one paw and added a lick of Pietas's face as well.
"Thank you for the bath." He hugged the panther's neck. "You have as soft a heart as I do but you don't show it either. Pact, my friend. I won't tell if you won't." He kissed Tiklaus on the nose.
The panther bumped its head against Pietas, then bounded to a tree and up it.
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.
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