"But we can't leave! All the Taken will die."
"You didn't get overwhelmed by the Elders of the Shadows and get a whole lot of commands and conditions poured into your head." Petroc grimaced.
"Uncle Chor didn't like it?"
"Killer headaches. Burkan did better, but he's been exposed to Shadows and it helped him over the shock. The bottom line is Taken are considered natives of Mallachrom. We've been chosen as liaisons between Humans and Shadows. So we're staying. Convenient, huh?"
"Very. What about the Talroqi hosts?" She knew she could pick the answer from their mental link, but she didn't want to. It would be easier, the impact blunted, if he told her.
"All the Talroqi died. They're more of a group mind than we are in the Merger. They couldn't live when their queens were incinerated. Started a chain reaction. The hosts are dead, too. Which is good, because the dead Talroqi inside them would have poisoned them in days."
Rhianni gagged at the mental image that conjured. Petroc stroked her forehead, soothing her until it passed.
"So we're safe, the universe is cleansed of the Talroqi, and Mallachrom is all ours."
"Pretty much." Petroc sighed, the sound turning into a sour chuckle. "Your uncle was pretty hacked off to find out he couldn't recruit Taken. We decided not to let him know that second generation Taken can leave."
"Secret weapon," she murmured, nodding. "So I'm out of the Rovers."
"Sorry?"
"Not on your life. Just very, very tired."
"That'll pass." He slid his arm out from under her. "Now that you're awake, you'll be up and around in three or four hours. It's like getting a shuttle engine back online."
"That's a lovely mental image." Rhianni laughed, then sighed, disappointed, when Petroc kissed her nose and slid off the bed. "What do I do until I'm on my feet?"
"How about thinking about what you want to do now that you're a civilian?"
"Did I remember to tell you--" She choked as a new fear sliced through her. "Roc? Am I still pregnant? What I did, it didn't kill our baby, did it?"
"Not a chance." He smiled and rested a hand on her abdomen. "That's the most important baby in the entire universe. Third generation Taken, and he protected your life, the entire planet, just by being there."
"He?" She found it easier to tease than consider all the things she was starting to remember, all the things that had happened to her, all the answers that had fallen on her with the weight of a fully loaded battle cruiser. "Did Cianna tell you for certain we're going to have a boy?"
"Well, no, but..." Petroc laughed. "Just think about all the things you want to do once you're free."
"You mean besides exploring the whole planet, like we promised when we were kids? More than having a big settlement and about a dozen kids?"
"Yeah." He reached for his boots. "Besides that."
"Can't think of a thing. Where are you going?"
"You need your rest." He stood up.
"I'm not that tired." Rhianni tugged back the blanket.
He paused there for two long heartbeats, and she saw in his eyes all the fears, hungers and needs he had wrestled with while waiting for her to wake. Then those painful thoughts died once and for all. Petroc grinned, dropped his boots and dove back into the bed.
Nothing and nobody will ever come between us. Their kiss merged body and soul.
The End
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About the Author
Michelle lives in Ohio, just about half an hour from Lake Erie and Cleveland. She graduated from Northwestern College, Iowa, with a BA in theater/English, and from Regent University, Virginia, with an MA in communication (film/writing). She has over 40 short stories and poems to her credit in fan fiction--Star Trek, Highlander, the Phoenix, Beauty & the Beast, Stingray, among others. Her first professional sale was also a first-place win in the Writers of the Future Contest, with the short story "Relay".
Michelle has written a number of series set in very different "Universes". To make them easier to keep track of, I have detailed the four universes currently available/or becoming available from Writers Exchange below (including all known book titles). Below that are detailed descriptions and cover art for each of her books.
Her author page is: http://www.writers-exchange.com/Michelle-Levigne/
If you enjoyed this author's book, then please place a review up at the site of purchase, and any social media sites you frequent!
Following is a summary of Michelle's complete large series book lists. For further details on each book, and other books not listed here, keep reading after this.
Commonwealth Universe
Before the Commonwealth, there was First Civ and then the Downfall, an age of barbarism when the galaxy-spanning civilization shattered and colony worlds learned to survive by their own strength...or were abandoned to die.
Please see the individual book details for a detailed explanation of this universe as it was too long to put in this section.
Book list in Chronological Order:
Note: This listing will increase as more books are written (or thought of), please go to the author page (http://www.writers-exchange.com/Michelle-Levigne/) for the most up to date list of available Commonwealth books.
AGE I:
* Volume 1: Khybors: In the Beginning (A Khybor Story)
* Volume 2: Norbra's Children (A Khybor Story)
* Volume 3: Slipping the Weave (A Khybor Story)
* Volume 4: First Law (A Leaper Story)
* Volume 5: Nova Vendetta Part 1: The Injustice
* Volume 6: Nova Vendetta Part 2: The Truce
* Volume 7: The Pirate and the Professor (Scifi Romance Novella)
* Volume 8: The Talon: The Adventure Begins (A Talon Story)
* Volume 9: The Talon: The Hero's Mask (A Talon Story)
* Volume 10: The Saddle and the Sleuth (SciFi Romance Novella: A Talon Story)
* Volume 11: Song of the Nightskimmer (A Talon Story)
* Volume 12: Interval
* Volume 13: Wind Walker (SciFi Romance Novella: A Refuge Story)
* Volume 14: Moonbirds (SciFi Romance Novella: A Refuge Story)
* Volume 15: The Peace Village (A Refuge Story)
* Volume 16: Stone City
* Volume 17: Null and Void (A Khybor Story)
* Volume 18: Lost Souls (A Khybor Story)
* Volume 19: Always Running (A Khybor Story)
AGE II
* Volume 1: Undying (An Order Story)
* Volume 2: Scholar (An Order Story)
* Volume 3: Vision (An Order Story)
* Volume 4: Phoenix Under Glass (An Order Story)
* Volume 5: Legacy of the Talon (A Talon Story)
* Volume 6: Flight (An Order Story)
* Volume 7: Soloana
AGE III
* Volume 1: Lin of Sunsinger (A Sunsinger/Scouts Story)
* Volume 2: Sunsinger (A Sunsinger/Scouts Story)
* Volume 3: Spacer's Creed (A Sunsinger/Scouts Story)
* Volume 4: Dead World (A Sunsinger/Scouts Story)
* Volume 5: The Lady and the Order (A Sunsinger/Scouts Story)
* Volume 6: Fever (A Sunsinger/Scouts Story)
* Volume 7: University (A Sunsinger/Scouts Story)
* Volume 8: Leap Ships (A Sunsinger/Scouts Story)
* Volume 9: Aramar (A Sunsinger/Scouts Story)
* Volume 10: Gemar (A Sunsinger/Scouts Story)
* Volume 11: Scouts (A Sunsinger/Scouts Story)
* Volume 12: Star Sword (A Sunsinger/Scouts Story)
* Volume 1
3: Illumination (A Sunsinger/Scouts Story)
* Volume 14: Star Dances (sequel to Aramar and a SciFi Romance)
* Volume 15: Hoven Quest (A Hoveni Story)
* Volume 16: Meruk Episodes I - V (A Hoveni Story)
* Volume 17: Meruk Episodes VI - X (A Hoveni Story)
* Volume 18: Meruk Episodes XI - XX (A Hoveni Story)
* Volume 19: Hoven War (A Hoveni Story)
* Volume 20: Virtually Dead (A Khybor Story)
* Volume 21: Kin (Sequel to Virtually Dead - A Khybor Story)
* Volume 22: True Caderi
* Volume 23: Kleintran (A Sunsinger/Scouts Story)
* Volume 24: Azuli Eyes (A Chorillan Story)
* Volume 25: Scouts' Pride (A Chorillan Story)
* Volume 26: By Fire and Stars (A Chorillan Story)
* Volume 27: Chorillan (A Chorillan Story)
* Volume 28: Silver Azuli (A Chorillan Story)
Faxinor Universe
Legend says long ago Yomnian gave to each country its own Spirit Sword, entrusted to a Sword Bearer to lead in the defense of each country, and also to provide spiritual guidance. If necessary, the Sword Bearer could overrule the word and authority of the king, but those to whom the most power and authority have been entrusted have the highest standards and the most expected of them. As the centuries passed, Sword Bearers fell and the Spirit Sword for each country was lost. Now only the country of Reshor possesses a Spirit Sword. Its bearer, Rakleer, has vanished into mist and memory, waiting until need and danger awaken the sword to choose a new Bearer and lead in the defense of Reshor.
The Faxinor Books currently known are:
Heir of Faxinor
Lorien
Traitors
Sword of Faxinor
The Hunt Universe
The Hunt are children sent from an endangered world in another universe/dimension of reality, to protect them from a despot who wants to command their Talents. Given into the keeping of the Hounds of Hamin, the members of the Hunt have been separated by time as well as distance. They know each other by the scars--rows of teeth marks--on their wrists. Some have been in our world for decades, others only for a few years. Before more enemies show up to destroy them, they must locate each other, soon, to find a way back home to save their world.
The Hunt books are:
Dawn Memories
Quartet
Butterfly
Finders, Keepers
The Gathering
We are hoping that Michelle will continue adding books to this series to flesh it out even more, but the above five, do make a complete series all by themselves. These books are also available in print.
Wildvine Universe
In multiple worlds, universes and dimensions of reality, there are tales of Hub Worlds where many different realms can meet and intersect. Some travel between worlds through the power of the mind and with Talents born into the blood, while others are chosen through vision and prophecy and step between worlds with the power of talismans. None can go to the others' worlds, except when they meet in a Hub World.
Wildvine County, somewhere in the United States, is that pivotal point where the travelers from multiple worlds and universes meet.
The Wildvine Books currently known are:
Ja'Hanna
Istorica
Felin-Ru
Old Solar's Shoppe
Apprentice Solar
Taksearhe
Last Contact
Heirs
Jones
Immunity
Sister Wolf
Tandeer
Mist and Memory
Blood Memory
Commonwealth Universe/Wildvine Connection
If you want to read more about each book individually, they are listed in more detail on the following pages...
Commonwealth Universe, Age I
(Sunsinger Series)
{Science Fiction}
Before the Commonwealth existed, there was an expanding, multi-galaxy civilization referred to by its descendants/survivors simply as "First Civ". Due to the combined effects of a too-aggressive policy of expansion, civil unrest, the inequality and abuse of the classes, and the categorizing of augmented humans as a slave class, First Civ disintegrated.
The period of darkness and barbarism that followed is referred to as the Downfall. Various groups of people fled First Civ as they became endangered or more powerful people tried to have them classified as mutants or non-humans, and either sterilized or made them into slaves. Among them were the Khybors, the ancestors of the Leapers.
Some groups of people managed to get hold of ships and flee to distant galaxies.
Volume 1: Khybors: In the Beginning (A Khybor Story)
Far back in Commonwealth history, before the Downfall of First Civ, when the galaxy-spanning civilization called itself the Central Allied Worlds. three novellas in one volume explore the birth of the Khybors, whose descendants will impact the Downfall, the rebirth of civilization, the return to the stars, and the Commonwealth far into the future.
Khrystalis: Kerin is the youngest child of two powerful, intelligent and gifted research scientists. When the military interfers yet again in her father's research, the resulting lab explosion fills Kerin's body with experimental bio-crystal, long before the material is ready for human testing. In a twinkling, she's changed.
Intended to aid the body in repairing itself, bio-crystal is used when medical science is incapable. As the living mineral penetrates down to the genetic level, Kerin learns to change herself and to sense the world in totally new ways. When her gift reaches out beyond her own biology, she stands poised between being the bearer of a great gift for humanity...or a threat that may change the universe.
Ambush: The twins, Casta and Pol, should never have been born, and there are many enemies who would still try to destroy them as they reach adulthood. Hidden away on a remote colony world with their uncle, they're allowed to explore the breadth of their potential as well as to develop all the gifts they can imagine.
That potential is put to good use when their home is attacked and their uncle is kidnapped by enemies intent on destroying first their world, then civilization. The twins' favorite game is called Ambush, and now the game has become reality. Only the enemy will never know what hit them...
When the smoke clears, Casta and Pol regain more than their uncle. Now what the twins are has a name: Khybors.
Wing and Claw: Lor and Jae lead the Khybors, training them to be the frontrunners of exploration teams clearing alien worlds for colonization. They've learned from their youth not to trust the powers-that-be when they speak of peace and cooperation between the emerging groups of augmented Humans and the rest of the Human race. All the signs are there, that the enemies who have been quiet, hiding in the shadows for generations, are ready to emerge and attack once again.
The time has come to reach for the stars, for Khybors to flee to the furthest limits of explored and colonized space, and find a world where they can live in peace and safety. First, they have to rescue the people who dared to stand up for them and speak on their behalf, before their voices are silenced permanently.
Publisher: http://www.writers-exchange.com/Khybors-in-the-beginning/
Amazon: http://mybook.to/CommonwealthKhybors
Volume 2: Norbra's Children (A Khybor Story)
Elin, a direct descendant of the first Khybor, holds the future of her race on her shoulders. When the Set'ri want to declare them non-Humans and have them exterminated, and other factions in civilization want them as slaves, Elin leads the way to a desert world called Norbra, where Khybors have a chance to live free and to raise their children in peace and safety.
But their enemies have followed them...
Publisher: http://www.writers-exchange.com/Norbras-Children/
Amazon: http://mybook.to/CommonwealthNorbra
Volume 3: Slipping the Weave
Khybors flee to Norbra for a safe place to raise their children, far fr
om enemies who want them declared non-Humans, or want to enslave or annihilate them entirely. Like the selfish, arrogant queen of legend for whom the planet is named, Norbra has a reputation for destroying all life. Elin and those who settle the planet believe no one else will want it. They hope their enemies will leave them in peace while they wait for Norbra to do the hard work of destroying their troublesome race.
However, Khybors are made to survive. They make Norbra their home and use the dangers of the planet for their own defense. Then. as the generations go on, they make a long-range plan for survival, aware that their enemies won't give up. The only way for Khybors to survive as a race is to withdraw so far away that the Set'ri and other enemies will never find them, and in time, may even forget about them.
Rorin Pace comes to Norbra to win Elin's heart, to follow his dream of piloting one of their ships, and to find a way to protect all Khybors. Kheeran, their daughter, reaches new dimensions as a pilot. Their son Banjer dives deeper within the computer world and discovers the vital element in the Khybors' long-range plans of escape to the far reaches of space.
Zeph, a Wrinkleship pilot, allies with the Khybors in building their fleet and brings them a damaged ship called the Nova Vendetta, full of prisoners, pirates, and a growing artificial intelligence.
Shadows of Mallachrom, Book 1: Blue Fire Page 25