lgduckworth

Zoey

I haven’t decided whose wrath is worse … my husband’s or an active volcano’s.

Who am I kidding? Nothing’s more dangerous than Einar.

That’s why I’m here, hiding out in a restricted area, braving the volcano’s volatility. I know my abusive husband won’t find me holed up in my grandparent’s cabin, since no one is even supposed to travel this close to Hengill.

As an overweight, abused housewife, I’ve left my husband more than once, but he’s always found me and forcibly brought me back. This time, I’m determined to get in shape and stay hidden. I’m used to being alone, so I don’t mind the solitude.

But I’ve been found. That’s why when I’m stalked for days by a man who disappears and reappears—sometimes even in the trees, I know my time is up! I have to go and find somewhere new to hide out.

On my way back to civilization, I’m attacked by crazy people and some strange scaled creatures! I’m disheartened to realize I won’t need to find some place to hide.

After all the careful preparation, I’m about to be killed … just not by my husband!

Jaxtyn

I’m done leaking information about Sinth matters to Purlogh.

If Payak knew I was discussing our case with my estranged family member, he’d feel betrayed. We’d all take the backlash if the Sinth Sovereignty found out I’m speaking about Guardians’ matters with a shunned Sinth.

As Guardians, we travel from one planet to another, cleaning up messes and overseeing alien interactions. Other species rely on us to use our stealth to keep everyone accountable to each other. I refuse to be accused of betrayal like my predecessor. Instead, I’ll disappear on my terms.

Separating from my squad, I decide to explore Earth before it’s totally ruined by the Wen virus. I’m pulled toward a large volcano, watching in awe as it belches smoke and shakes the ground regularly. It’s then I see her … a Human female who can see me when I’m in my dimension.

What’s she doing out here all alone? When she heads back to town, I realize just how much and fast things have changed in the area.

She’s going to have to trust me if I’m going to be able to save her from the Wen-infected because now we’re not only dealing with transitioned Humans—but also the transitioned alien Taxin!

Jen

My best friend was abducted by aliens!

I’d be so pissed if that happened to me. I’ve spent almost nine years working ten to twelve hour days to establish a business, pushing vacations and future plans to … someday. I’ve yet to really live and being abducted and almost dying isn’t on my bucket list.

Amy’s returned with a “mate”, telling me he’s immune to all illnesses—and now she is too. She demonstrated her new disappearing act, swearing she’s “phasing” into another dimension and saying every time she does, her body resets to perfect health. I’m super jealous since I’ve lost so many loved ones to cancer, starting with my father when I was only a child.

I want someone that can’t get sick. Someone who can take care of me for a change. I’m exhausted from the daily grind.

When Mavin’s partner Trus shows up, Amy’s sure we’re mating compatible, but the timing couldn’t be worse. There’s a new virus everyone’s talking about, and people panic as businesses shut down. Only my business explodes, and my training efforts to lighten my load are not panning out.

But I’m done waiting for the stars to align to enjoy my own happiness! I’ll create my own future—now.

Trus

My best friend found a mate in a food pen!

All my life I’ve held my breath and hoped I’d see my friends again. As a Sinth Guardian, it’s not unusual for someone to enter their dimension and never return. We get worn down, giving up on life due to loneliness.

In an effort to make sure Mavin doesn’t disappear forever, I back him up, accepting the same punishment on a backwater planet called Teleplay. The alien planet is being mined for its resources and not habitable for many species. You can imagine our surprise to see Earth humans in the food holding pens.

When I confirm that Mavin has stolen the female Earth species from the pen and mated with her, I’m shocked—and excited! A mate means company and a potential family.

Gathering information about who’s responsible for the Earth species arrival on Teleplay, I work with the Sinth Sovereignty, Taxin and Ashen alien species to get to the bottom of the Human’s abduction. Trailing suspects and spying from my dimension, I know that finding my own mate shouldn’t be a high priority. But when I meet someone who’s mating compatible, how can I not want to get to know her?

But those distractions can be deadly. New technology I’ve never seen before threatens the future for everyone, and now I have more to lose than ever before.

Jade

I gave my heart away when I was too young to know better.

The idealized version of the man I love is forever burned into my memory. I joined the military to deal with the rejection. He’s moved on without me, and I can’t imagine that anyone else will ever compare. 

So, I serial date. I’m not sure if I’m expecting to find someone like him or trying to forget him. Either way—it isn’t working.

After all, I just want to be taken seriously. He never even considered that my feelings could be real. I’m smart enough and old enough now! But instead of finding someone new, the excessive dating has made me a target for the men on the base. I’m considered a conquest.

A chance meeting at the bar has me rethinking my “frigid” reputation. For the first time, I encounter someone who not only makes me feel alive—but impassioned. He’s mysterious and sexy, and my body tingles with awareness, excitement … and lust.

For the first time, I’m considering giving someone—who may be gone tomorrow—my “V” card. 

Desin

I’ve never had my affection reciprocated.

My love is forbidden in our society. Something that I only shared with my closest friend due to the taboo nature of my feelings. It wasn’t meant to be for so many reasons—including the fact that she didn’t return my devotion.

All I want is someone to care about me and only me. I know I can’t have what all Sinth dream of—a family. It’s simply not a possibility in our society, and I like to think I’ve come to terms with that.

I meet Jade while my squad is searching for our missing team member, Mavin. But then we’re split up because a potentially devastating virus shows up on Earth. It becomes more important than ever to figure out how to protect the humans—especially as I realize that what I felt before was a pale imitation of what lust and attraction truly are. Saving her life in a warehouse “accident”, I give her not only a second chance at life—but myself, as well.

But for how long? As we continue to look for the source, will the Wen virus keep spreading and decimate the entire planet?

Payak

When a rogue Sinth Guardian disappears onto planet Earth, I’m not sure if he’s investigating the alien abduction of Humans he discovered or if his message to me meant something more…

Mavin has disappeared, so I make sure I’m first in line, paying tribute to the Ashen aliens who protect the planet Earth where he was last seen. He’s like a brother to me, and after his last punishment by our ruling body the Sinth Sovereignty, he needs to know we all care—so he doesn’t disappear into his personal dimension forever.

What I don’t expect, is to find an Earth female so alluring, it appears she can see right into my dimension. She can see me!

Unfortunately, we’re called in for infectious testing and notified that the Wen virus has appeared on Earth. Now, we’ve been split up and assigned to help find the source of the disease’s arrival. As warriors against what the Humans are calling the Zombie Affliction Contagion, we utilize our dimensional phasing to stop the spread across the globe before it causes an apocalyptic catastrophe. 

It’s more important than ever to find out if Human females could be mating compatible, since phasing into our dimension means there’s a chance for their species if we fail to stop the contamination. 

Will Teresa let me close enough to test our compatibility? What will it mean for the future of Earth if I fail?

Teresa

The last thing I need is a hot, drool-worthy one night stand!

I just managed to break up with the loser I should have dumped ages ago, so I already know I’m not the best at saying no or ending things. But it’s time for me to plan for my future, not consider another romance.

As the Housing Coordinator on our secret military base, I’m sent to settle in new arrivals. During a routine walk through, I run into a man who’s easily the best looking I’ve ever seen. With dark hair and light piercing eyes, he catches me off-guard when he practically acts like a barbarian as he continues to relentlessly pursue me—despite my denial of interest in him.

I’m ready to think about life after the service, so I want someone who can be around for the long haul. Definitely not another workaholic, and I know he could be reassigned and gone at any moment. 

For all I know–probably back to a wife and kids! I can’t let my heart get involved.

Amy

My mind won’t accept I’ve been abducted by aliens!

I’m staying overnight in my car at Yosemite when the strange, teal light illuminates me. Next thing I know, I wake up in a cage with three other people. Everything outside the bars is pink and red on the foreign planet, and I don’t feel very well …

When I spot a beautiful man, glittering through my feverish haze in front of me, I’m unsure whether he’s my captor here to claim me or a hero who plans to rescue me. With how awful I feel … maybe he’s an angel sent to guide me into the next world?

Mavin

I’m assigned as a Guardian to this boring alien planet, watching the ongoing catastrophe unfold as the extraterrestrial contagion wars with the native species…

It’s not like my Sinth Sovereignty superiors can ground me anywhere else in space more apocalyptic, since there’s no cure for the invading disease! With that in mind, I’ll check the feeding stations on Teleplay exactly where and when I want. I won’t go rouge, but it doesn’t have to be all by the book—all the time.

I’ll never get out of here to discover new things if I don’t follow my gut and take some chances. I can’t explain why I feel as though I’m being drawn to this building … as if there’s something demanding my attention and waiting to be discovered.

When I stumble into my first contact with contraband Earth Humans, my premonition makes more sense. But what isn’t as clear, is why despite the Wen virus racing through their bodies, the female of the species calls to me on a primal, almost barbarian level I don’t understand, inspiring instant lust and a desire to claim her.

Also, she appears to see me … even when I’m sure I’ve phased into my own dimension.
After reporting them to their alien protectors the Ashen, can I leave her here to die? Especially if there’s even the remotest possibility she could be my fated mate?