Cover Reveal – Tethered
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 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 25th July.
Add it to your Goodreads shelf HERE.
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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 (3rd place), and the GCC RWA Silken Sands
Star Awards (2nd 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.
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