Craved

by Elin Wyn

  “Good plan. Want this?” I handed her the blaster.

  “What would I do with that?” She patted her pocket . “Sweet of you to think of it, but don’t worry. I’m prepared.”

  Whistling, she headed off between shuttles, chatting with the sleepy Vicki. “We don’t want this one, do we? It looks slow and boring. Let’s find a nice fast one, shall we?”

  I backed away, try not to think about leaving Vicki with Doc. Valrea would kill me if anything happened, and with Doc the definition of ‘anything ‘was pretty wide.

  Valrea.

  Unable to resist the pull of my heart any longer, I took off at a sprint.

  We’d won.

  But if she’d been hurt, I would’ve lost it all.

  Epilogue

  The burgundy flowers had transformed to a deep blue. I stared at them, confused. Flowers couldn’t change color, not all of them, on every bush that spread out across the hillside.

  No pigment came off on my hand when I brushed them. Baffled, I moved on to my spot on the cliff overlooking the sea, and gazed at the narrow crescent of beach below, empty of castaways now. The ocean itself had changed, become brighter.

  Of course. With the filtering glow of the dome removed, I was seeing the true colors of the Compound for the first time.

  Everything had changed.

  Strong arms wrapped around me, and I leaned back into Geir’s chest. Changed for the better.

  “Doing alright?” he asked.

  I took a deep breath, let the breeze fill my lungs. “Just noticing, wondering what this would would have been like without father and his meddling. Hoping the Devourer doesn’t eat everything in the ocean, now that it’s been released.”

  “I think we can let that problem solve itself without us. We’ve got enough on our plate.”

  “Like Stanton, and whatever he had in that bag.” I couldn’t stop thinking about it, wondering, worrying.

  “We’ll find him.” Geir reassure me. “There’s still information on the computers here, people he worked with. The Pack will find out everything there is to know.”

  I put it from my mind, focused on the soft voices behind me. Tianna sat in a chair Caze had carried out, laughing with Abril about their exploits as vandals.

  Mara played with Vicki, some nonsense game involving Doc moving piles of flower petals from one of the girls to the other.

  Slowly I turned in the circle of his embrace and wrapped my arms around his neck. Basking in the heat of his golden eyes, I let myself hope.

  “Ask me again?”

  “Come back with me?”

  My lips brushed over his before I answered. “Yes.”

  He lifted me, spun me as he crushed his mouth to mine, and my heart soared. One word opened a universe of possible futures, all of them with Geir at my side.

  Vicki’s high laugh caught my attention. “About Vicki….” I stopped, my heart in my throat at this last barrier.

  “She’ll have to get used to living on a space station, at least for a while. But if she misses planets too much, we’ll go find her one.”

  “You want to keep her?” My voice broke. “It’s not too much?”

  “Of course she’s staying with us.” Geir nipped the shell of my ear. “She’ll have lots of uncles to keep her safe.”

  “But will they babysit?” I giggled, imagining a room of men like Geir confronting a tiny tyrant.

  “If we ask nicely, I’m sure we can work something out.” He nuzzled my cheek. “Wait until she meets Granny Z.”

  “Is that Doc’s mother?” The family tree, such as things were, was going to be complicated, I could already tell.

  “Oh Void, no. Actually, maybe we should keep Doc and Granny in two separate rooms at all times. Maybe separate space stations.”

  “You told Doc that the companion of one of your brothers is a doctor.” I whispered, looking away, unable to meet his eyes. “Do you think she could help me?”

  His hand gently cupped my chin, brought me back to him. “You mean, cure what they inflicted on you?” A long, deep kiss soothed my fears. “I’ve got the rest of the pills, remember? Doc and Nadira will analyze it, figure out what was done, and get you fixed up in no time, I promise.”

  We watched the girls play in the sun, throwing flower petals in the air.

  “What do you want to do when you grow up?” Doc asked Vicki.

  “Be a mermaid,” came the quiet whisper. “Or a unicorn.”

  “Well, it’s a little late to get started, but I’m sure we can develop something, sweetie. Just wait until I get back to my lab.”

  I stared at Geir in horror.

  He muttered, ”Conner’s going to kill me.” He stepped closer to them. “Doc, did I tell you that Conner has a mate as well? And that she’s pregnant?”

  Her eyes gleamed. “Really?”

  “But don’t tell him I told you,” Geir warned. “You know how private he can be.”

  “Don’t worry, dear.” Doc laughed. “You know I can be sneaky if I have to.”

  The crash of the sea faded underneath the chatter of my new family as the sun broke through the clouds high above.

  It was time to come out of the tower.

  Geir picked up Vicki, and held his hand out for mine. I laced my fingers with his, holding tight.

  “Let’s go.”

  ~~ The End, for now... ~~

  Letter from Elin

  Dear Reader,

  This was a hard one to write. There were times the journey between Geir and Valrea was rough. I'll admit, there were parts of the story that had me sniffling at the keyboard, but more that had me cackling (or fanning myself!)

  In the next book, poor Xander will finally have a reason to stop being angry - and we'll find out what Stanton's plan is!

  If you liked the passion and adventure of Craved, you'll love Snared, because the stakes - and the heat - have never been higher.

  Click here to know the moment it's released!

  XOXO,

  Elin

  Snared - coming soon!

  Snared: Book Six of the Star Breed, will be out this spring. Sign up to my mailing list for sneak peek chapters, and to be the first to know when it’s live!

  https://elinwynbooks.com/newsletter/

  Please don't forget to leave a review!

  Readers rely on your opinions, and your review can help others decide on what books they read. Make sure your opinion is heard - Leave a review here!

  If you're interested in keeping up with future releases and opportunities for advance review copies, please join the newsletter!

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  Need to catch up on the Star Breed?

  Don’t miss a single one!

  Given: Star Breed Book One

  When a renegade thief and a genetically enhanced mercenary collide, space gets a whole lot hotter!

  Thief Kara Shimsi has learned three lessons well - keep her head down, her fingers light, and her tithes to the syndicate paid on time.

  But now a failed heist has earned her a death sentence - a one-way ticket to the toxic Waste outside the dome. Her only chance is a deal with the syndicate's most ruthless enforcer, a wolfish mountain of genetically-modified muscle named Davien.

  The thought makes her body tingle with dread-or is it heat?

  Mercenary Davien has one focus: do whatever is necessary to get the credits to get off this backwater mining colony and back into space. The last thing he wants is a smart-mouthed thief - even if she does have the clue he needs to hunt down whoever attacked the floating lab he and his created brothers called home.

  Caring is a liability. Desire is a commodity. And love could get you killed.

  http://myBook.to/StarBreed1

  Bonded: Star Breed Book Two

  She doesn't need anyone. He's not going to let her go.

  Eris Vance, salvager and loner, is happy with her life in the remote fringes of the Empire with just her AI for company. An abandoned ship could be
the find of a lifetime, but it's not nearly as empty as she thinks. And the hulking man left behind kindles a heat she's never felt. But will he stay through the coming storm?

  Connor is the perfect soldier - He's been made that way. Waking up to the destruction of the world he knew disturbs him almost as much as the gorgeous woman who found him. Her scent, her touch distracts him, and just this once, maybe he doesn't care.

  The Daedelus is filled with secrets and the results of genetic experiments to breed the perfect soldier... and now that she's awakened him, the mystery of its destruction will hunt them both. Can the growing bond between them survive?

  http://myBook.to/StarBreed2

  Caged: Star Breed Book Three

  No Past. No Trust. No Way Out.

  Zayda Caiden relies on no one. An Imperial spy, her mission was betrayed - but she doesn't know the identity of the traitor.

  And there's certainly no reason to trust the giant of a man dumped at the prison clinic, even if he makes her burn with feelings she thought long buried.

  Mack has no memory, no real name. Just dreams of fire and pain, and a set of coordinates to a section of unexplored space he refuses to reveal. There's no room in his mission for a woman with secrets of her own, but her scent fills his dreams.

  When they have a chance at freedom, can they trust each other enough to escape? Or will their secrets overwhelm their passion?

  http://myBook.to/Starbreed3

  Freed: Star Breed Book Four

  When solitude leads to the brink of madness, only the touch of a sexy, headstrong doctor can pull a dangerous warrior back from the edge...

  Dr. Nadira Tannu's work at the small clinic on Orem station was a quiet practice, helping the people of the Fringe. But then she and one of her patients were abducted into a nightmare on a long lost star ship and nothing would ever be the same.

  When a rugged survivor rescues them, can she turn his thirst for revenge into a plan for escape? And can she keep her heart safe from the heat in his eyes?

  Vengeance against the faceless droids who destroyed his brothers is all that keeps Ronan alive. But he can't resist the pleading look in a pair of wide green eyes staring at him from a cage.

  He'll keep her safe. Even if it's from himself.

  http://myBook.to/Starbreed4

  About the Author

  I love old movies – To Catch a Thief, Notorious, All About Eve — and anything with Katherine Hepburn in it. Clever, elegant people doing clever, elegant things.

  I’m a hopeless romantic.

  And I love science fiction and the promise of space.

  So it makes perfect sense to me to try to merge all of those loves into a new science fiction world, where dashing heroes and lovely ladies have adventures, get into trouble, and find their true love in the stars!

  Also by Elin Wyn

  The Empire’s Fringe – Science Fiction Romance

  The Empire’s Fringe Bundle

  All of the below stories, at a special price!

  https://elinwynbooks.com/the-empires-fringe/

  Staked

  In the slums of space station Cilurnum 8, fiercely independent Anisha Cheng must decide how far she’s willing to trust Kieran Matthias, the one man who she’s ever allowed to break her heart. If she can’t, she risks losing the Sapphire Star, her late father’s bar and the only home she knows, to a crime syndicate in three days. But as Anisha and Kieran try to work together, the plans of the syndicate may break them apart forever.

  Jewel of Empire

  On the spaceliner Dynomius, reformed cat burglar Audrey Pilgram has three weeks to prove her innocence of a series of copycat crimes, or all the sins of her past will be laid at her door. But her quest to uncover the culprit is complicated when she sees the next target - tall, handsome Phillip Lapsys. Can she stop the theft of the jewel before he steals her heart?

  Raven’s Heart

  Jayna wasn’t looking for trouble. Her plan was to keep her head down, save her money, and get back into to med school. But when she overhears the plans for a bio-terrorism attack that could wipe out the population of her station, her world is turned upside down. Raven’s Heart is a steamy science fiction romance complete novella with a happy ending, containing nebula hot scenes of passion.

  Stolen

  An alien artifact. Archaeologist Eliya Cafeal has spent her life in pursuit of this find - and nothing is going to get in her way. Certainly not a rogue and a scoundrel, even if he makes her blood catch fire. Captain Ruvon Taxal likes his life. Few close friends, a spot of petty smuggling or charter trips as needed. No restrictions, and nothing to tie him down. And if his newest passenger, a feisty archaeologist with storm grey eyes, has gotten under his skin, well, he'll learn to live without her when she leaves. But everything is changed when Eliya is stolen.

  Claimed

  In the remote mountains of a frontier planet, tinkerer and part-time inventor Paige Roth has her hands full protecting her claim against the goons of MagnorCo. With the help of her robots, she's doing pretty well, but the last thing she expects to fall into one of her traps is a handsome stranger trying to hike through the mountains for reasons of his own. He's handsome enough to make her forget where she put her toolkit, but can she trust him?

  Alien Warrior Romance

  https://elinwynbooks.com/alien-romance/

  Alien Mercenary's Desire: Alien Abduction Romance

  Kordiss has spent his life on the fringe, not succumbing to his rages. But when he rescues feisty human Sharla from intergalactic sex traders, his defenses are breached by her trusting smile. And when she's stolen from his arms, nothing will stand in the way of getting her back.

  This is a sexy, steamy stand-alone alien abduction short romance with a happy ending.

  Bonded to the Alien: Gate Jumpers Saga Part 1

  Captain Taryn Nephalia was, honestly, a little bored with her current mapping mission. But a freak accident sent her and her crew crashing towards an unknown planet. Captured by alien snake men, Taryn knows she's on her own to escape, rescue her crew, and get off that rock.

  But she's not expecting help from a fellow prisoner - a hunky alpha alien warrior on mission of his own. And now his mission includes her.

  Bonded to the Alien is the first in a linked series of steamy science fiction alien romance short stories about Captain Taryn and her crew.

  Allied with the Alien: Gate Jumpers Saga Part 2

  Stephine Willovitch isn't sure about trusting the Eiztar warriors. She's practical, logical, and not terribly fond of strangers. As far as she remembered, she'd just entered her pod moments ago. Torpor gas had kept her still for the past 36 hours. But apparently Captain Taryn had gotten them all involved with a bunch of rebels, and now they were on the run from some sort of alien snake men. Stephine would follow orders, but she couldn't be ordered to trust the man paired with her - Dojan Cholsad-. Tall, blond, stunningly handsome - and annoyingly friendly - she certainly wasn't going to put up with any of this bonding nonsense. But when Dojan is in danger, her heart isn't listening to her head.

  Trapped with the Alien: Gate Jumpers Saga Part 3

  Sherre Balinko, the navigator and youngest of Captain Taryn's crew, couldn't be more excited. She might be stranded on a hostile alien planet, but now they were allied with a whole new group of aliens! Her partner in the race to get the antitoxin back to the base is the tall, handsome Zaddik Wangari. But the grand adventure is over When the Tuvarians board the Eiztar mothership and Sherre and Zaddik must battle them alone...

  Lost with the Alien: Gate Jumpers Saga Part 4

  Jeline Montias, human pilot, isn't thrilled about being paired with Kogav Wangari of Zurole. He's flippant, grumpy and even though he's an engineer and not a pilot, reluctant to let her at the controls. Why should she care that he has eyes like gorgeous amethyst pools and a sweet smile?

  They can't seem to stop arguing, even when they're dodging Tuvarian raiders in their mission to get a deadly poison back to the Eitzar lab for analysi
s. But when they're driven through a set of jump gates to a new sector, they'll have to work together to survive.

  Science Fiction Adventure Romance

  Join the men of the Garrison as they discover the secrets of Crucible…

  Second Chance at the Stars:

  As a gifted psychokinetic healer, Adena Thornwood’s skills are in constant demand. She’s built a solid reputation for her willingness to make sacrifices at any cost. But when she’s betrayed by members of her own family, she may finally be broken. Regaining control will be near impossible with her heart in shambles.

  Suppressing the rebellion on Crucible should have been just another mission for Commander Nic Vistuv and the men of his garrison unit. But lies and misinformation plague their mission from the beginning. Ghosts from the past haunt them, threatening his life and those of his brothers-in-arms.

  The only way out of their predicament may lie in the form of a bribe, but this bribe is different. It’s wrapped in the body of a young healer, whom is battle-scarred and broken by a deep betrayal. As secrets unravel and enemies draw nearer, Adena may be the key to understanding the truth of Crucible.

  Can a wounded healer and an embittered soldier come to trust each other in time to forge a second chance for both?

  http://elinwynbooks.com/my-books/

  Copyright © 2018 by Elin Wyn