This weekend I released the third, and final story in “the Argadian Heart” trilogy, “Ravager’s Redemption.” Thus, through Monday, October 10th, I’m giving away the first in the series, “Eluria’s Enforcer” for #free on Amazon.
An excerpt from Eluria’s Enforcer
She’d hesitated long enough. It was time to engage the restraints. Again, she leaned back on her heels. With his eyes closed, his face was in repose, softened, reminding her of the youth she’d once known. They were strong features, but not hard, a square jaw, and high, defined cheekbones.
Unable to resist, she reached up, and touched his hair. It was thick and silky beneath her fingertips. The texture much as she remembered. But the color had changed. It was now pure white, a consequence of the Nanus process. Thus, it was a trademark of every Enforcer. When she’d known him, hishad had been black as a night sky without moon.
His body was firm, muscled, sculpted. She was unable to resist and ran her hand along his shoulder, down the contours of his smooth, hard chest. Life, warm and pulsing, thrummed beneath her fingertips. So beautiful. She closed her eyes in painful remembrance as the Before washed over her.
“Come watch this old Earth film I bought on the black market today,” Devon urged her, a grin on his lips. There was an eager light in his beautiful turquoise eyes. He reached for her hand and pulled her into the viewing room, urging her down onto the long comfortable lounging chair. She curled up beneath his arm as they watched the science fiction movie from long ago.
He looked down and grinned. “I’m glad you came over, Eluria. I’ve missed you. You’ll be at the Celebration tomorrow, won’t you?”
“Yes, I’ll be there. You know I wouldn’t miss it,” she responded, tucking her head against his shoulder, inhaling his warm, musky scent. She loved spending time with him. Wanted the moment to go on forever.
How could she have known that within the space of a sun’s rising he would be torn from her life? The spirits of Before haunted her often. When he’d been taken away, her heart had broken knowing she’d never see him again. Even if she did, he wouldn’t remember her. But when she’d found out the truth, her whole life had shattered. That’s when it had become imperative to find the antidote and set him free.
The antidote! She raced out to the velocitor and retrieved the small box containing the vials, handling it reverently. She carried it back inside.
Devon was the reason she was here now. She looked at him and then down at the small box. She had a decision to make. Was this why Guardian had brought them together on this planet? Did she dare attempt to use it on him now? Did she really have any other choice?
No. It would either work or it wouldn’t. It was apparent someone wanted them both dead. If he killed her and went back, they would probably find a way to kill him anyway. If she left him the way he was, he would try to destroy her, complete his mission. And he would succeed because she couldn’t kill him. Either way they were both dead.
She wanted Devon whole again. She needed to give him back his life. Guilty knowledge from Before washed over her. And if it did work, there was a chance it would work on others and the rebellion could be successful.
Placing the box on the lid of a trunk, she opened it, removed a syringe and one of the clear vials marked Nanus-X. She remembered the instructions. First, she must inject him with Nanus-X. If all went well, twenty-four hours later, she must inject him with the neutralizer, Nanus-Z.
After filling the syringe, she walked back to him. Eluria’s hands shook at the enormity of what she was about to do. She chanted to the protection goddess.
“Symion, if ever I needed your guiding hand, I need it now. Don’t let me make a mistake. Please let it work.” Slowly, she lowered her hand with the filled syringe to Devon’s hip.
This weekend download it #free on Amazon.
Devon Andromeda, a nanus-altered Argadian Enforcer of the First Level, is assigned the mission to hunt down and eliminate Eluria Zydon, a rebel leader, who also happens to be the daughter of an Elite Tribunal Commander. Enforcers are altered and trained assassins who retain no memories, or humanoid emotions which would hamper their purpose. Aggression is the only emotion unblocked in an Enforcer; the Tribunal directs their existence.
Eluria Zydon’s life is filled with more than enough memories and emotions for both Devon and herself. She lives with the guilt of past injustice and her life has been dedicated to finding the cure to set Devon Andromeda and those like him free. It is a payment she hopes will also free her soul once and for all from her tormenting past.
Confrontation on the lifeless planet, Serdion, will change them both forever. An explosion delivers Devon into Eluria’s hands. An experimental drug opens the floodgates to Devon’s emotions…and his memory. The first emotion he faces, and must learn to control is desire. Eluria has been trained as a twilight companion and has the knowledge to help him harness his passions. Will he accept her help? Or is his only intent to complete his mission…her death…
Eclectic Alchemy 
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