New Dystopian Romance--STOPPING THE ENEMY (excerpt PG)

STOPPING THE ENEMY

Author: Susanne Marie Knight

Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Romance

Available electronically at Amazon.com and Smashwords.com

Price: $3.99

Print: Amazon.

Price: $9.99.

Buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DXGMXQ4 ebook

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1101697

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09F1FVGQR Print

Blurb:

After the Great Catastrophe, Rhuemma and her people struggle under the oppressive reign of the Dominus. Can she convince the Dominus’ right hand man, Wellington Vadis, that Might is not always Right?

A CONTEST OF WILLS

In the “After Time”--after the Great Catastrophe--young Rhuemma Holliday is a healer, a warrior, and a virgin. Ever since her parents were killed by the heinous dictator of the neighboring territory of Verdeton, the Dominus, Rhuemma’s two missions in life have been to protect her people of Casseldia and vanquish the enemy. When chance leads two wounded military males from Verdeton to her cabin door, she finally sees her opportunity to kill the Dominus. However, she doesn’t count on the attractions of the deliciously handsome Colonel Wellington Vadis.

MIGHT VERSUS RIGHT

Wells Vadis is in enemy territory to rescue his son. His leader, the Dominus, has also tasked him to capture... or kill a female known as the Crone of Casseldia. When the comely warrior princess who bested Wells twice in hand-to-hand combat turns out to be the crone’s granddaughter, he is torn. Should he do his duty and turn Rhuemma over to the Dominus? Or should Wells make his own decisions about what is best for Verdeton, Casseldia, and also for himself? 

Scene Set-Up:

Warrior Wells Vadis is trespassing in enemy territory for two reasons. The first is to rescue his son held prisoner by the Crone of Caseldia The second is to kill the crone. He comes across a lovely young woman who is too tempting to pass up.

EXCERPT

Once at the lake, Wells would find the Crone of Casseldia’s cabin... and hopefully his son in good health. He flared his nostrils. He’d take great, perverse pleasure in ripping that hell-hatched crone’s head from her pathetic shoulders.

He approached an area that surely was a gift from the gods. The intoxicating scent of lilacs weaved into his lungs, seducing him to forget his purpose and revel among these flowers of heavenly delight. So awash was this magical place brimming with brilliant colors and permeating the air with an aroma that truly teased his senses; he almost felt as if this was the Garden of Eden.

And then he saw Eve...

For a long moment, he stared at this exquisite creature. He carefully pushed past lilac bushes to obtain a better view.

She sat at the lake’s edge, with her legs pulled in and her well-shaped arms wrapped around them. Her hair--as dark as midnight--billowed out and down her back, and flowed seductively in the breeze.

As she rested her chin on her knees, he could only see her profile, but what a profile it was. High forehead, retroussé nose, generous lips, dark eyes ringed with kohl... she was a proud beauty.

The young woman sighed. It was a heavy sound, a sound without hope, a sound without joy. It was as if this lovely female had burdens too heavy to carry.

Uncharacteristically, he longed to ease her afflictions, whatever they might’ve been.

Then reason returned. He was here for his son... and to slaughter the crone. There would be no room on the return journey for a veritable Venus. However, most likely she knew the direction of the crone’s cabin. He took a step toward her.

Looking up, she gasped. Once she fixed her dark gaze on him, her sparkling eyes widened.

He held his hands out, palms up, to show he carried no weapons. “Do not fear, fair lady. I have no ill intent. Indeed, if I may say, your beauty overwhelms me.”

At his words, she leaped to her feet and stood with arms akimbo, just as a warrior might. “Why are you here?”

Giving her one of his charming smiles--at least he’d often been told his smiles were charming--he took another step toward her. “I could say I’m here to carry you away to my home, but that would be an untruth.”

Her gaze flickered. “An untruth is a lie, and I don’t speak with people who lie.”

Her quickened breathing emphasized the bounty of her breasts hidden by a shapeless tee shirt. He took in the sight and then noticed a patch of flat sand to the right of her. With one sudden movement, he could grab her, throw her down, and have her.

He eyed her combat-ready form. “As I said, I’m not here to carry you away.” Again, he smiled. “Unless, of course, you wish to be carried away?”

“Don’t flatter yourself, buster.” She narrowed her gaze. “Who are you here to abduct then?”

She was young, deliciously young and delightfully curvy... and he evidently was in need of release.

To accomplish his goal, he leaned forward, extending his hands out, intending to grab her. “Touché, my water nymph. I enjoy fencing with words.”

“I’m not your water nymph nor do you belong on these shores. I repeat, who are you here to abduct?”

He placed himself in front of her. “Prickly little thing, aren’t you? Come, I grow warm for you. Hot. Allow me to partake of your sweetness.” Lunging at her, he then tightly gripped her shoulders. 

She flung her arms out from the elbows, surprising him with her strength. The defensive move broke his grasp and before he registered it, she counterattacked with a classic kick to the groin.

His groin. He yowled out in pain. In truth, he actually saw stars.

To his disgrace, he was completely unprepared for her action. And then, using extreme force, she shoved him headlong into the cold waters of the lake.

The girl remained on the shoreline with her hands on her slim hips. A malicious smirk lifted her lips. “Not so hot now, are you, vermin?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Reading!

Susanne Marie Knight

http://www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!