by Smith, S. E.
Embrace the Passion
Pets in Space 3
S.E. Smith
Anna Hackett
Ruby Lionsdrake
Veronica Scott
Pauline Baird Jones
Carol Van Natta
Tiffany Roberts
Alexis Glynn Latner
E. D. Walker
JC Hays
Kyndra Hatch
Contents
About Embrace the Passion
About S.E. Smith
Acknowledgments
Cast of Characters
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Experience the stories:
About S. E. Smith
Desert Hunter
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Also by Anna Hackett
About Anna Hackett
Quashi: (a Mandrake Company story)
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Epilogue
Author’s Note
STAR CRUISE: MYSTERY DANCER
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Also by Veronica Scott
About Veronica Scott
Operation Ark: A Project Enterprise Story
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Also by Pauline Baird Jones
About Pauline Baird Jones
Cats of War
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Epilogue
Also by Carol Van Natta
About Carol Van Natta
Hunter of the Tide
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Also by Tiffany Roberts
About Tiffany Roberts
Starway
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Also by Alexis Glynn Latner
About Alexis Glynn Latner
The Bajo Cats of Anteros XII
The Bajo Cats of Anteros XII
Acknowledgments
Also by E. D. Walker
About E. D. Walker
Out of the Shadows
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Also by JC Hay
About JC Hay
After The Fall
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Author’s Note and Dedication
Also by Kyndra Hatch
About Kyndra Hatch
Thank you!
About Embrace the Passion
Pets in Space is back! Join us as we unveil eleven original, never-before-published action-filled romances that will heat your blood and warm your heart! New York Times, USA Today and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch combine their love for Science Fiction Romance and pets to bring readers sexy, action-packed romances while helping our favorite charity. Proud supporters of HeroDogs.org, Pets in Space authors have donated over $4,400 in the past two years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 today!
* * *
The pets are back in this new, exciting collection of eleven original stories from today’s hottest Science Fiction Romance authors! Feel the action and passion!
HEART OF THE CAT
Sarafin Warriors Series
By S.E. Smith
Can love bridge the gap between a wounded alien warrior and the reclusive human woman who holds the future of his species inside her?
DESERT HUNTER
Galactic Gladiators Series
By Anna Hackett
Among the desert sands of an alien world, a man with secrets to hide finds himself face to face with the one woman who can bring him to his knees.
QUASHI
Mandrake Company Series
By Ruby Lionsdrake
Alien fur balls, a handsome doctor, and a little white lie create havoc for a young woman who only wanted a job.
STAR CRUISE: MYSTERY DANCER
The Sectors SF Romance Series
By Veronica Scott
A long-lost princess and her three-eyed cat seek refuge on the Nebula Zephyr only to catch the attention of an inquisitive Security Officer.
OPERATION ARK
Project Enterprise Series
By Pauline Baird Jones
A not quite routine mission to return rescued prisoners to their home worlds turns deadly for unlikely allies, a USMC Sergeant and a raised-by-robots pirate. Is the Sergeant’s unusual pet the wild card that will save or doom them?
CATS OF WAR
A Central Galactic Concordance Novella
by Carol Van Natta
A disgraced military Sub-Captain, a repair technician with secrets, and two special cats must save the day when trouble erupts at an important factory.
HUNTER OF THE TIDE
The Kraken #3
By Tiffany Roberts
Nearly broke by betrayal, a human discovers solace—and a chance for love—among the creatures he once hunted, but he must overcome prejudice and inhibition to claim the female he desires.
STARWAY
By Alexis Glynn Latner
A lonely interstellar pilot and a passenger’s mistreated consort find each o
ther in an interstellar hotel that offers everything to satisfy its guests’ desires—even desires they didn’t know they had.
THE BAJO CATS OF ANTEROS XII
By E D Walker
Two ex-lovers, stranded in space, have to save a pair of kittens with hazardous powers before the local drug cartel catches up to them.
SHADOW OF THE PAST
By JC Hay
On a world of perpetual night, an aging ranger and a widowed veterinarian need to put aside their past to protect a pack of wolves... and their future.
AFTER THE FALL
By Kyndra Hatch
The Invaders took everything worth living for. Could an Invader show him how to live again?
About S.E. Smith
Prince Walkyr d’Rojah’s mission is to find an ancient artifact known as the Heart of the Cat—a powerful gem that holds the mythical power that connects his people. His only clues are an ancient scroll and the legends passed down through generations. However, he isn’t the only one searching for the Heart of the Cat. A secret sect determined to overthrow the royal families of the Sarafin, the Curizan, and the Valdier wants the power contained in the gem for themselves. They are more than willing to do whatever it takes to obtain it.
Trescina Bukov’s affinity with large cats has taken her all over the world. A frantic call from a local rescue group compels her to fly to Wyoming in the western part of the United States. A new species of leopard was discovered near death.
Walkyr is shocked when the human female connects with his leopard—and recognizes what he is. Now, he must deal with the assassins who have followed him, calm his leopard that wants to claim a crazy human, and try to find out why all the clues in his search for the Heart of the Cat are pointing to a planet far from home.
When two worlds collide, there are bound to be sparks. Can Walkyr maintain control of his cat long enough to take care of business first, or will he be forced to let it loose to save the woman who is hiding a life-threatening secret?
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank my husband Steve for believing in me and being proud enough of me to give me the courage to follow my dream. I would also like to give a special thank you to my sister and best friend, Linda, who not only encouraged me to write, but who also read the manuscript. Also to my other friends who believe in me: Julie, Jackie, Christel, Sally, Jolanda, Lisa, Laurelle, Debbie, and Narelle. The girls that keep me going!
And a special thanks to Paul Heitsch, David Brenin, Samantha Cook, Suzanne Elise Freeman, and PJ Ochlan—the awesome voices behind my audiobooks!
—S.E. Smith
Cast of Characters
Walkyr d’Rojah
Prince of the Sarafin royal family
Third oldest
Trescina Bukov
Human
Expert on Big Cats
Mate to Walkyr
Katarina Bukov-Danshov
Half-sister to Trescina Bukov
Mia Elena d’Rojah-Bukov
Daughter of Queen Mia d’Rojah and King L’Darma Bukov
Mate to Raul T’Rivre
Mate to Ivan Danshov
Two daughters: Trescina Bukov (Raul) and Katarina Bukov-Danshov (Ivan)
Raul T’Rivre
Mate to Princess Mia Elena d’Rojah-Bukov (on Sarafin)
Biological father of Trescina Bukov
Captain of the Guard for the King and Queen of the Forest Kingdom of Sarafin
High Lord of the Secret Sect of The Enlightened
Ivan Danshov
Human mate to Mia Elena d’Rojah-Bukov (on Earth)
Scientist for Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
Biological father of Katarina Danshov
Vox d’Rojah - King of the Sarafin
Cat shifter
Sarafin warrior
Mate to Riley St. Claire
Riley St. Claire
Mate to Vox d’Rojah
Human
Aryeh
Father of the Sarafin Princes
Rosario
Mother of the Sarafin Princes
Illana
Sister to Aryeh
Viper
Prince of the Sarafin royal family
Second oldest
Gable
Prince of the Sarafin royal family
Fourth oldest
Qadir
Prince of the Sarafin royal family
Fifth oldest
Pallu
Prince of the Sarafin royal family
Youngest of the princes
Sixth oldest
Eldora
Former lover of Vox d’Rojah
Informant for those trying to overthrow the royal families
Killed by poison
Pursia
Former lover of Vox d’Rojah
Informant for those trying to overthrow the royal families
Committed suicide
Titus – Rightful Ruler of the Ocean Kingdom
Vox’s cousin
Sarafin warrior
Banu – Rightful Ruler of the Desert Kingdom
Sarafin warrior
Adopted by Illana and Arimis
Raised as Titus’ younger brother
Parents murdered in their sleep
Illana’s younger brother was his father
Lodar
medical officer
Tor
chief of engineering for the Shifter warship
Bragnar
Sarafin warrior
Traitor/assassin
Vladimir Mirvo
Russian poacher/black market trader
Airabus
Former Elite Palace guard
Sarafin Traitor
Ranker
Sarafin Traitor
Nastran
Sarafin Traitor
Heather Arnold
Vet for Grove Ranch
Administrator of Wyoming Rescue Center
Mother to Zeke Reynolds
Zeke Reynolds
11-year-old son of Heather Arnold
Terry James
Part-time volunteer at the Wyoming Rescue Center
Prologue
Forest Kingdom on Sarafin:
Centuries Before
Mia could see the raging fires through the open windows of the palace as she ran barefoot along the dark corridors. The brilliant flames gave the night a malevolent glow. Terrified screams rang through the air and added to the chaos and confusion.
Mia’s heart thundered in her chest when she heard urgent shouts behind her. She quickly turned left and ran down another long corridor to seek a place to hide. All around her, she could hear the pleading voices of the servants begging for their lives before their cries were brutally silenced.