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BLURB:
A secret she must never share. A secret that two warring species are determined to control. A universe’s future at stake.
Twenty-year-old Cassiel Winters joins Earth’s new space academy in hopes of finding her brother, one of Command’s top pilots and her only family, who’s been reported MIA. But she quickly realizes she may not be cut out for life in space, where female cadets are outnumbered, competition’s fierce, and she’s already failed her hand-to-hand combat test once.
Even the station’s most respected officer, Lt. Damian King, probably can’t help Cassiel pass the second time around – so why is he so interested in her progress? If only one of her freaky déjà vu visions would offer an answer instead of mysterious messages like hide.
When Cassiel’s manipulated into a perilous mission, she encounters a warrior species bred to protect the universe from an even greater threat. And she learns that her secret visions are at the heart of it all.
Now Cassiel must fight to control her own destiny and race to save her brother – even if it means pretending to be the pawn of Prime Or’ic, the cold-as-steel Thell’eon leader. Even if it means risking her life, facing hard truths, and making the ultimate sacrifice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
Or’ic. I can’t believe I recognize him by sight alone. I sink back as he leans onto the downcore.
“We . . . pushed you,” he says quietly. Crap, he does know I’m awake. “We would understand you better,” he adds, almost
whispering. “We would know where you are strong and where you are fragile.”
What in the Jupiter is he talking about?
“We would understand the human. And to begin, you would choose from now on.”
Choose? Choose what?
Despite my ardent desire to never move from this downcore, a propensity to survive and an incredible need to eat something gets the better of me, and I roll over and sit up.
He leans back off, giving me space. I sigh because he’s smiling in my peripheral vision. I don’t want to look at him directly. I can’t believe how hungry I am. How long was I out? Seth’s at my side scanning me.
“What do you mean I get to choose?” I ask quietly, staring at Lor’s large bare feet across the room.
“You agreed to work with us for the sake of your brother. My Kirs, we mistook your cooperation for consent.”
“You mean you think you own me!”
We glare at each other. But, but his posture is, oh, relaxed. And I’m deeply unsettled when he looks away first. He folds his arms awkwardly across his chest, muscles squished out, and then uncrosses them.
“You would understand us,” he beseeches me, hands out. He places them on the downcore, searching the room, until he spots what he’s looking for. He returns with a stool and sits on it, making him eye level with me. A first. “Our beliefs,” he starts and stops. I’ve never seen him this . . . uncertain. “Kirs spend a lifetime training and fighting Aeon. We strive to achieve a perfect Horde, knowing the likelihood is incredibly small. And still we prevail. To get the chance to have, to fight with a sift,” he corrects himself, “with you, is . . . sacred. Once given, it is understood to be a right that is earned.”
“So you think I was, what, given to you?” He rolls his eyes, frustrated. Ah, that’s more familiar.
When he focuses back on me, his eyes are different. Earnest, I think.
“Think of how you ‘fell’ into our path. ESE sent you to our ship! You! When you took my beacon portal, then I knew for certain. It was our destiny to have a sift. You belong to us!”
His vehemence scares me more than the simple deduction. Those things all happened, but not so that I could be his sift. Not even so I could help ESE get the sift (isn’t that ironic?). But so that I could save Daz! I’m certain of this. Being their sift is not my destiny. And even if I believed in that crap, I would never belong to them. Or anyone.
“I’m a human being, Or’ic!”
A secret she must never share. A secret that two warring species are determined to control. A universe’s future at stake.
Twenty-year-old Cassiel Winters joins Earth’s new space academy in hopes of finding her brother, one of Command’s top pilots and her only family, who’s been reported MIA. But she quickly realizes she may not be cut out for life in space, where female cadets are outnumbered, competition’s fierce, and she’s already failed her hand-to-hand combat test once.
Even the station’s most respected officer, Lt. Damian King, probably can’t help Cassiel pass the second time around – so why is he so interested in her progress? If only one of her freaky déjà vu visions would offer an answer instead of mysterious messages like hide.
When Cassiel’s manipulated into a perilous mission, she encounters a warrior species bred to protect the universe from an even greater threat. And she learns that her secret visions are at the heart of it all.
Now Cassiel must fight to control her own destiny and race to save her brother – even if it means pretending to be the pawn of Prime Or’ic, the cold-as-steel Thell’eon leader. Even if it means risking her life, facing hard truths, and making the ultimate sacrifice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
Or’ic. I can’t believe I recognize him by sight alone. I sink back as he leans onto the downcore.
“We . . . pushed you,” he says quietly. Crap, he does know I’m awake. “We would understand you better,” he adds, almost
whispering. “We would know where you are strong and where you are fragile.”
What in the Jupiter is he talking about?
“We would understand the human. And to begin, you would choose from now on.”
Choose? Choose what?
Despite my ardent desire to never move from this downcore, a propensity to survive and an incredible need to eat something gets the better of me, and I roll over and sit up.
He leans back off, giving me space. I sigh because he’s smiling in my peripheral vision. I don’t want to look at him directly. I can’t believe how hungry I am. How long was I out? Seth’s at my side scanning me.
“What do you mean I get to choose?” I ask quietly, staring at Lor’s large bare feet across the room.
“You agreed to work with us for the sake of your brother. My Kirs, we mistook your cooperation for consent.”
“You mean you think you own me!”
We glare at each other. But, but his posture is, oh, relaxed. And I’m deeply unsettled when he looks away first. He folds his arms awkwardly across his chest, muscles squished out, and then uncrosses them.
“You would understand us,” he beseeches me, hands out. He places them on the downcore, searching the room, until he spots what he’s looking for. He returns with a stool and sits on it, making him eye level with me. A first. “Our beliefs,” he starts and stops. I’ve never seen him this . . . uncertain. “Kirs spend a lifetime training and fighting Aeon. We strive to achieve a perfect Horde, knowing the likelihood is incredibly small. And still we prevail. To get the chance to have, to fight with a sift,” he corrects himself, “with you, is . . . sacred. Once given, it is understood to be a right that is earned.”
“So you think I was, what, given to you?” He rolls his eyes, frustrated. Ah, that’s more familiar.
When he focuses back on me, his eyes are different. Earnest, I think.
“Think of how you ‘fell’ into our path. ESE sent you to our ship! You! When you took my beacon portal, then I knew for certain. It was our destiny to have a sift. You belong to us!”
His vehemence scares me more than the simple deduction. Those things all happened, but not so that I could be his sift. Not even so I could help ESE get the sift (isn’t that ironic?). But so that I could save Daz! I’m certain of this. Being their sift is not my destiny. And even if I believed in that crap, I would never belong to them. Or anyone.
“I’m a human being, Or’ic!”
 | AUTHOR Bio and Links: Journalist Lesley Young never thought she would delve into the world of writing fiction, but when she sat down for the first time to put pen to paper, ideas for what would become her first novel just poured out naturally. Young’s first book, “Sky’s End,” is a multi-genre tale that showcases her unique style of weaving romance, action and wit into one page-burning story. Young was born in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada. She holds an arts degree from the University of Alberta and a journalism degree from the University of Victoria. Young now lives in Loretto, Ontario where she works as a journalist, freelance writer and editor for health, décor and business magazines. Since 2008, Young has written more than 300 articles for print and online media including Profit, Toronto Life, MSN Green, and Elle Canada among others. She is a regular contributor to Reader’s Digest, Best Health, Canadian Living and House and Home Magazine. Soul Mate Publishing releases “Sky’s End” on July 15 in paperback and e-book. The novel is Young’s first installment in a series about Cassiel Winters, a futuristic heroine, and her outer space escapades. Links: Facebook.com/LesleyYoungBooks www.twitter.com/LesleyYoungBks LesleyYoungBooks.com Amazon: Barnes & Noble: |
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