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  Her legs ached, and she wanted to move and relieve the pressure on them, but she held herself still, waiting for the command to dismiss. She wouldn’t let herself or him down now. Not after she’d worked so long to achieve this position.

  As the new ST, she had no previous experience on ships. She had vast experience in the field, but Elara was aware that would count for little in the eyes of most of the crew. She didn’t intend to signal a weakness to anyone and least of all on her first day aboard the Star of Ishtar. That thought held her still and controlled.

  She had big shoes to fill after her predecessor, Jamieson, had retired, even though she knew she could fill the void he’d left behind. As a long-term member of the crew—over twenty years—his tenure on the Star of Ishtar had placed him aboard since its launch. Due to his experience in the heat of battle with the Ru’Edan he had made a name for himself as the coldest of cold in the hottest of situations. She hoped to emulate that herself and carve out her own place aboard the Ishtar, as its crew lovingly knew her.

  Duvall and Grayson knew how much she wanted to prove herself. They just wouldn’t have expected it here, on the Ishtar.

  She watched Duvall study her, then, quickly turning on his heel, call to those assembled, “Dismissed.”

  Once they started to move away, she softened her stance, preparing to turn when the call came.

  “Sudonne! A moment if you please.”

  Elara turned to face Duvall. “Commander?”

  “Welcome to the Star of Ishtar, Elara. While I am surprised you’re the new ST, Grayson and I are pleased you could join us. But how did you manage to pull it off? Keeping it quiet that you were the new ST?” he asked, his voice deep enough to make most women shiver with anticipation.

  She smiled, thinking it was a shame she didn’t have any feelings for him except sisterly attachment, but then again, given his lack of deep commitment to women, maybe it wasn’t such a shame after all.

  She understood what drove him. He wanted his own ship and to captain his own future. They’d spent many nights over wine or ale discussing his beliefs that commitment grounded a person. Inwardly, she shrugged. He’d make those calls for himself, though she was sure that one day he would come across someone who would make him consider his choices a little more thoroughly.

  “I’m pleased to be here, Duvall. Having an uncle who happens to be an admiral, he was able to let Captain Elphin know that I wanted to surprise you. It’s a small world in the Admiralty. Elphin already knew of me, so he okayed my placement. Once the powers knew there was no impediments to me joining the crew, it was fairly simple from there.” She felt a small smile creep onto her face, then let it drop away. “What do you think Grayson thinks?”

  “Ah, still chasing him, are you?” He grinned, his eyes twinkling. “I think he’ll be pleased you’re finally old enough and you’re here.” He looked her straight in the eye. “But you may just need to remind him of that particular fact.” He motioned for her to go before him, barking out a deep laugh. “Come on, I’ll show you to your cabin.”

  Available from Love Books Publishing

  Available in Ebook via Books2Read

  * * *

  Direct Autographed Copy

  https://www.imogenenix.net/Warriors1

  The Blood Bride by Imogene Nix

  Hope just wants to be an ordinary nestling. She went to college and escaped, but now she’s back and there’s a secret everyone is keeping from her.

  * * *

  Xavier is the new master of the nest, ready to welcome home the daughter of the house who he has never met. He’s unprepared for the woman who steals his breath and enchants him.

  * * *

  Now Hope and Xavier must fight for lives and those of the innocents. After all, it is only by overcoming the rogues that they will have a chance of a timeless future together. But will it be in time?

  PROLOGUE

  * * *

  As silence descended on the house, the shadows grew—dark grays and blacks that bled into each other. First one figure then another broke away, making a run toward the house. Silent as the grave, they moved swiftly over dew-slicked grass. Then they stopped still. Waiting. Not a movement betrayed them until a signal propelled them back into action and they started crawling upwards. The walls damp coating no barrier to the intruders that ascended in the darkness.

  The sound of each window breaking shattered the quiet—the figures were inside. Screams echoed through the night. Yet, in this area of large estates, heavy with noise-absorbing shrubbery, no one could hear those within. The blood-curdling screams went on and on before finally dying away.

  Just one sound echoed through the night: The sobbing of a child.

  The front door opened and figures trooped out—ghostly specters against an inky night sky, broken by a single outline. A child in white, carried at the center of the pack.

  No sound broke the silence as they moved toward the trees surrounded the house.

  Flames now licked at the manor: A deathly glow of oily smoke rising.

  All that remained was a single person—wrapped in a cape of midnight blue beyond the house—watching them melt away.

  Jemima moved toward the burning structure, breaking into a run as she breached the threshold. Vainly she attempted to enter, but the heat drove her back.

  Now dashing tears from her face, she raced across the graveled driveway toward the gates, where the guardhouse was located. No sign of life existed within the building and some instinct of survival slowed her pace to a careful creep. Out of breath and heaving from exertion, she nervously checked within.

  Small puffs of white vapor colored the glass. She darted from one window to another. Her cloak drawn tightly around her body, hoping it would camouflage her from sight.

  Satisfied, Jemima entered through the heavy, wooden front door and moved toward the phone she spied on the floor. Her eyes darting here and there she dialed, listening to the rotary motor as it returned to the proper position. Time was short and if they came back, she needed to have shared the message.

  The phone rang once. Twice. With a brrping sound it connected.

  “Hello?” A male answered and she felt a warm flush of relief at the voice. A voice she knew well.

  “The manor has been breached. The girl child taken.” The words erupted and her hand trembled.

  “On our way.” The click of the receiver being replaced echoed loudly in the stillness of the room.

  Copper. She smelled copper.

  Her stomach soured, knowing it meant more deaths. Jemima looked around for the gun—a gun with deadly, holy water-infused copper bullets—she knew was hidden somewhere in the room. A gun she couldn’t find. No divine intervention exists here, she thought.

  Hopefully they didn’t remain. Feeding. If they were still here, that’s what they would be doing. She found a corner and scrunched down, hiding from sight.

  Crouched low, she tried to stay as still as possible, listening for sounds of the vehicles she knew would be coming. She dug her fingers into the flesh of her arms; remaining aware enough to stop before drawing blood. That would surely bring them out. Jemima dragged the cloak around her to capture the warmth, yet there was little to be found.

  The sounds of engines roused her from the corner of the room. Jemima inched toward the window, the lead of the old glass distorting her view, hearing raised voices she knew Mistress Cressida had arrived.

  Jemima retreated. Remained hidden from the woman because if she knew, all may well be lost. From the shadowed room she listened to the conversation...

  “It smells like Estersham.” The Mistress’ eyes closed. “If it is, we have a problem.” She turned once more, her face set and eyes now glacial in intensity. “James?”

  The man nodded as if he knew what was to come.

  “If I take those steps, I cannot return. Another must stand in my place.” Her voice hardened while her eyes glittered in the dim light, piercing in their intensity.

  Then
the Mistress’ voice called out in the near silence. “You and yours have been my loyal servants for so many years. I took an oath to protect you long ago. I renewed it with marriage and births, over and over. Now, my home and yours have been breached and this child taken from us. The girl child, who will be the hope and salvation of our kind, was ripped from the bosom of our nest. I will repay your loyalty and I will get her back.” The words of power rippled in the night and licked at Jemima’s skin.

  Available in Ebook

  books2read.com/BloodBride-Nix

  * * *

  Direct Autographed Copy

  https://bit.ly/TBB-Nix

  Also by Imogene Nix

  Warriors of the Elector

  Star of Ishtar

  Starline

  Starfire

  Star of the Fleet

  Starburst

  The Star of Eternity

  The Star of Ishtar & Starline - Print

  Starfire & Star of the Fleet - Print

  Starburst & The Star of Eternity - Print

  Blood Secrets

  The Blood Bride

  The Illuminated Witch

  The Sorcerer’s Touch

  House Secrets (The Blood Secrets Continuation)

  As Dawn Breaks

  Immortal Consequences

  The Automaton Series

  Haven House

  Nobel Crest

  The Search Duology

  Miss Elspeth’s Desire

  Miss Isabelle’s Craving

  Reunion Trilogy

  War’s End

  The Assassin

  Executing Justice

  The Reunion Trilogy in Paperback

  Sex Love & Aliens

  Tangled Webs

  False Webs (Sex Love & Aliens Vol 1)

  Covert Webs (Sex Love & Aliens Vol 2)

  21st Testing Protocol

  Cyborg: Redux

  Children Of A Greater Evil

  When Evil Came To Stay (Not Yet Released)

  Finis: The War To End All Wars (Not Yet Released)

  Celtic Cupid Trilogy

  Blame The Wine

  A Stranger’s Embrace

  Revenge On Cupid

  The Celtic Cupid Trilogy in Paperback

  Zombieology

  The Reset (2018 - Love At The End of The World)

  I Dream of Zombies

  The Six Million Dollar Zombie

  Knights of Pleasure

  Silken Knights (Not Yet Released)

  Single Titles

  The Chocolate Affair (also in Print)

  Falling In Love Again (Previously A Sapphire For Karina)

  BioCybe (also in Print)

  Hesparia’s Tears (also in Print)

  Tomorrow’s Promise

  A Bar In Paris (also in Print)

  Inheritance Of The Blood (also in Print)

  The Plan

  Loving Memories (also in Print)

  Hero of Heartbreak Hill (also in Print)

  My One & Only

  Curse Bound (coming 2021)

  Raspberry Dreams (Not Yet Released)

  * * *

  Non Fiction

  Self Publishing: Absolute Beginners Guide (With Suzi Love)

  Written as Ciara Cave

  25 Curated Ways To Get Rid Of Telemarketers

  Book Signings for Absolute Beginners

  About the Author

  Imogene is published in a range of romance genres including Paranormal, Science Fiction and Contemporary. She is mainly published in the UK and USA.

  In 2010, Imogene Nix (the pen name not Imogene herself) was born. Imogene sat down and worked tirelessly for 3 months culminating in the book Starline, which became the first in a trilogy titled, "Warriors of the Elector." Since then she’s had over 30 titles published and is now focusing on hybridising herself - with a mixture of traditionally published and self-published works.

  In fact, she’s taking control of many of her back catalogue books, which are slowly re-releasing as self-published titles.

  Imogene is a member of a range of professional organisations world wide, and believes in the mantra of mentoring and paying it forward and is actively involved in mentorship (through NaNoWrimo and her vlog: In The Chair With Imogene Nix) and tutoring of new and upcoming authors.

  In her spare time she loves to drink coffee, wine & eat chocolate and is parenting her spoiled dog and a ferocious cat along with her husband and 2 human daughters and looks forward to weekends away with her husband in their caravan “The Seven Year Hitch!” Do look forward to her caravan romance at some point!

  To Contact Imogene

  www.imogenenix.net

  [email protected]