announcement soon…. I am so excited about this one.
Excerpt from Stolen
STOLEN, A SCIFI WARLORD ROMANCE, is available free through my newsletter or for purchase at all venues.
Earth 9079
“You’re not supposed to be here, DaKar. Go away.” DaKar Volkan, disgraced firstborn Executive to the Starlight estate, Warlord of nothing, didn’t move. Dirty feet planted on the cool balcony tiles that overlooked the ballroom, he let his half-brother’s voice roll right over him. His hands gripped the railing as his gaze locked on the gathering below— and one tiny, delicate figure in particular.
Despite his calm appearance, his heart slammed against his chest.
“This party is for full élithe only.” Unfortunately, ignoring his younger half-brother, Peller, did not make him disappear. Instead, he shuffled closer, his nose barely reaching the top of the railing, his narrow chest puffing out and making the rich fibers of his skintight jacket shimmer and pulse with different shades of purple. “It’s not for heathen half-Martian freaks like yourself. Mother said so, and Father agreed. You’re to stay out of sight.”
The festivity below was your typical excessive élithe event. A reminder, DaKar supposed, of how far they’d come. Earth had been a bleak, dying planet after the Great Wars, useless and used up, its air toxic. Until six wily survivors coaxed the United Federation into using Outer Worlder technology to slap a dome on a large swath of the place and turn it into a trading post. Over centuries, the dome had exploded in importance—thanks to the ruthlessness of those at its helm—transforming into a thriving, anachronistic mini-fiefdom, ruled with an iron fist by the share- holders of the Earther Corporation and their grasping male offspring. His father’s family had been one of the original six, but DaKar wasn’t nearly as impressed with the legacy as the rest of his relatives.
“Mother said this is my chance to represent the family and make Father proud. To show him I can handle the title of High Executive when he is ready to pass it down.” His half-brother rarely gave up. “You will ruin everything.”
DaKar didn’t bother responding. At moments like this, he almost felt sorry for Peller. There was no making their father proud. And the older male would never give up the esteemed élithe title or the power that came with it unless they were pried from his cold, dead hands.
“This is my event.” His half-brother prattled on. “Mother has done this for me.”
DaKar had to admit his stepmother had outdone herself tonight. A thousand flickering candles cast shadows over the Outer World performers from beyond Orion’s belt, their green scales glowing as they climbed the walls and astonished with acrobatics an Earther’s body could never do. In another section of the giant room, musicians from Saturn’s moons played haunting tunes through their trunks as élithe guests pretended to sway to the music while looking to see who they could suck up to next. To top it all off, colorful neon lights flashed in random bursts from the ceiling, sparking to life the gems and danashe stones sewn into the clothes or worn as accessories around the neck, wrists, or hair of the guests. There was nothing the élithe loved more than to show off their wealth, and danashe stones, prized for their beauty, rarity, and stunning color shifts in the light, were a staple of élithe couture.
But none sparkled quite as bright as the tiny one’s golden hair.
“I’ll tell Mother.” His half-brother was relentless—and unimaginative. His insults and threats always the same.
“Bleek off, Peller.” DaKar’s voice dipped to a growl and then cracked, ruining the effect. His grip on the railing tightened. Thanks to his Martian blood, he’d always been bigger than his full élithe peers, but at ten, his voice and body were changing, and suddenly unreliable. His horns, usually tucked to the side of his head, popped out when he least expected. His skin, already golden and nothing like the creamy pink color of his élithe peers, was deepening in hue, while his fangs lengthened and his shoulders, chest, and legs grew by the lunar rotation.
That last development was the only thing he liked. Because maybe soon he’d be able to do something besides taste dirt beneath the fists of the grown-ups who ruled his life. Maybe he’d even be able to stop following his sire’s directives and finally accept his mother’s uncles’ repeated invitations to come visit them on Mars. He didn’t know if things on the Outer World would be as rough as here, but