by Erin Raegan
She had long fur on her head, cascading across my bed in a fiery pool. Her nose was pinkened and wet as tears leaked heavily from her eyes.
“I will watch over her,” I said quietly, watching the female as she wept her sorrow into my sheets.
“My king?” Gryl asked, warily.
“Go,” I said gruffly, waving him away.
The door closed softly and I sat in a chair adjacent to the bed. She shivered violently and I found myself pulling the heavy fur at the foot of my bed over her small form. When she sighed, I found I could not tear my eyes away from her scarred, strangely enchanting face.
What had this human faced in that hellish prison? What had scarred her so deeply that she could not find peace in sleep?
I watched that human female for hours, long into the early morn, as she sobbed her sorrow and cried for help that could not reach her in her mind.
I had to tear myself away from her, and still my body longed to rush back to her. My gut torn as I left her there. I could not stop myself from checking on her throughout the rest of her slumber.
When she finally quieted and her tears dried, Gryl carried her back to her rooms. I did not understand the urge to tear her from his arms as I watched them walk out. I did not understand the instinct that raged inside me to pull her back to me.
She is to be yours.
I glared at Mantu, furious at him for the first time in our long friendship.
Do not look at me like that, my king. Your longing roars so loudly through the world, I cannot help but hear it.
“I do not even know her name,” I snarled at him, turning my back on him.
Her name does not matter. She is to be yours and she is to be queen.
“No, I will not allow it.” I thrust away the fierce possessiveness in my gut. Thrust away the certainty in his predictions. Mantu claimed he was never wrong.
I am not.
“This time you will be,” I threatened ominously.
Mantu merely chuckled in my mind.
Juldoris
Chyn
The assassin sat on the throne, his head tilted back against the iron.
Three Juldo walked in, their dark eyes cautious and grave.
“Shadow Born, they call for the challenge.”
Chyn did not spare them a glance. They told him this every sunring, and he gave them the same answer. “Not yet.”
The Juldo flinched from the rage in the assassin’s voice. One broke away from the trio, hesitant and afraid. “If you do not claim the throne—”
Chyn tipped his shadowed face down and seared the Juldo with a look, choking away his words. “Leave.”
The Juldo gulped and sighed warily. “There is more.”
“Spit it out,” Chyn said, his voice impatient and exhausted.
“The old master’s scouts have returned from Earth.”
Chyn brought his hand to his mouth, glaring at the Juldo curiously. “Earth?”
“They bring a human female with them.”
Chyn closed his eyes in frustration. The master was now dead, at his hand. But still, his idiocy was infecting the very air he breathed. “Bring her to me.”
Watch for
Pythen Blessing: Galactic Order Book Six
Coming October 2019
Uthyf’s favorite Kahyk
MomMom’s Peanut Butter Cake (Castle Sweet Loaf)
Cake Ingredients:
1/2 c. Smooth Peanut Butter (Finely ground Ilynda nut thingies)
1 sticks margarine or butter (Heetbull spread)
½ cup oil (Guhuvin traded sea oil)
1 tsp vanilla (Shredded goliv berry leaves)
1 c. water (Home world water is thicker, drop in until batter is smooth)
2 c. Sugar ( 10 ounces of Home World relid sweetener and 1 tsp desired pureed and dried ‘fruit’ until sweetened to liking)
2 c. plain flour (No flour on this whole frickin’ planet so grind some black wobbly stalks and mix it with the weird brown powder Isin hates)
1 tsp Salt (No salt either so we’re skipping it)
2 eggs (beg Peyton for them or you’ll be chasing a dya bird around for rock hard balls that look nothing like eggs and Isin says horrify the Dahk when eaten, what they don’t know won’t kill them)
½ c. evaporated milk. (It’s the stinky jug in the back of the pantry Isin keeps threatening to throw away)
1 tsp soda (laugh so you don’t cry)
Directions:
Mix in a pot and bring to boil peanut butter, stick of butter, oil, vanilla, and water.
Add peanut butter mixture (Ilynda not-really-nuts butter) to dry ingredients. Stir until smooth and cool.
Add 2 eggs beaten (Peyton’s or if she’s being stingy, make sure no one sees the dya bird delivery Rydvyra helped you hide in the pantry)
½ c. evaporated milk. (Stinky jug, cover your nose)
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min (in hot box until its done, use your eyeballs)
Icing Directions:
In a pot add:
1 stick butter, 1/2 c. peanut butter, 1/3 c. evaporated milk.
Heat mixture until everything melts. Remove from heat.
Add and mix in 1 box- 10 oz sugar( your alternative). Pipe icing while still warm. If icing overcooked, it will harden like candy.
Enjoy (and tell everyone the tracks in the icing are supposed to be there, not from Gryl’s sneaky swipes. We don’t throw our friends under the bus.)
Other Books by Erin Raegan
Galactic Order Series
Pythen: Galactic Order Book One
Home World: Galactic Order Book Two
War For Earth: Galactic Order Book Three
Juldo Made: Galactic Order Book Four
The New King: Galactic Order Book Five
Pythen Blessing: Galactic Order Book Six (October 2019)
Shadow Assassin: Galactic Order Book Seven (TBD)
Books by E.M. Raegan
Defy the Ravaged Series
Willow: Defy the Ravaged Book One
Thrive: Defy the Ravaged Book Two (August 2019)
Book Three: TBD
Book Four: TBD
About the Author
Erin Raegan is an obsessed reader, a dedicated writer, and a lover of all things fantastically impossible. When she’s not plotting her next project, she spends hours on her Kindle, though nothing beats a real book in her hands. She can be found at home in Connecticut with her Chihuahua, Minnie, and her German shepherd, Odin, waiting with her six-year-old son for her active duty husband to come home.
For more information about Erin Raegan and her books, visit:
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Email:
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Acknowledgments
Uthyf and Mona were so much fun to write about. It was new for me. This story was less action packed and more political than my others. Mona made me cry multiple times and Uthyf both made me mad and had me swooning. Not to mention I am no baker. I burn things… but with a lot of help from a friend and google I learned a lot and Mona taught me a lot. Special thanks to my Aunt B for the recipe. Love you!
Sooooo, we are getting to the end here. We’ve got two more books in the series and I am really wrapping everything up for the Dahk. That’s not to say you won’t be seeing them in the future but we will definitely be moving on. I know a lot of you will read this and panic especially my Yilt lovers out there. But not to worry. I have plans to do a few Galactic Order side stories as standalones. Yilt will most definitely be one of them, as will Ignyt—bet you didn’t see that one coming! And a few more.
But after our favorite assassin finishes off the series with book seven, I think I’m ready to dive into the Kilbus Lord. I hope you guys are as excited for him as I am!
Thank you to Lexy as always! You are a huge help and I adore you!
Thank you to Joy editing, you guys are amazing and I’m always excited to work with you!
My family is my safe place. I love you guys so much. My little boy, you are growing up and getting way too interested in what I’m writing and I can’t wait to read all the books you plan to write on your own kiddo.
My sister, always killing it with these covers. Love you!
And to my readers, my betas, ARC readers, and council members, without you guys I would not have the courage to write all these stories swimming around in my head. You guys rock so many socks!
Get hyped guys, Peyton is going into labor soon and I have one final wild ride on Home World planned before we head off into the world of the Juldo!
Glossary
Pythe: The female vernacular for a true mate in the Dahk species.
Pythen: The male vernacular for a true mate in the Dahk species.
Pythen Mating Rage: An affliction the male, Pythen, endures when he finds his Pythe. He becomes feral, loses his mind, and enraged beyond his control.
Pythen Mating Ceremony: After a Pythen loses himself to the mating rage he is chained for long periods of time to honor his Pythe. This is to allow him to become worn, lessening his strength and rage, so it is safer for the Pythe during their first mating.
Dahk: A purple-grey skinned alien species. They are an honorable warrior species and led by a king and his House. The throne is passed down through their royal genetic line. Description: Over seven feet tall, on average,purple and deep grey skinned, with armored plates and ridges strategically placed on their bodies as a defensive trait. They have very large wings, claws, and fangs as offensive traits. Their ears are large and pointy, flattened to the side of their skulls, and they have horns that curl around from their upper temples to the back of their crown. Dahk are built for dark surroundings, sunlight an irritant.
Vitat: A carnivorous alien hive species. A Queen at the helm, controlling their minds. Description: The Vitat are over seven feet tall, on average, and white―nearly translucent―skinned. As offensive properties they are fast, and have claws, and their featureless bulbous heads have a mouth that splits their head open from one side to the other filled with several rows of razor-sharp teeth. They have no sight, and they pick up on sound through vibrations, they also have a sensitive palate. They track their prey through sound and a sense of smell though their mouths, using organs in their mouth that collect small organisms in the air.
Juldo: A warmongering species. Their mechanics contain a disease that will allow them to infect other species and change them Juldo. They are led by a Juldo Master who earns his title through a challenge. Description: Juldo are large varying between six and eight feet, and in some cases larger, this often means a Juldo is close to succumbing to the virus. They are a red-skinned species with large incisors. Both traits are a result of the infection. They alter their bodies for battle and offensive traits with nano-mite tech. The nano-mites are also essential for their survival, without them the virus would grow in strength, eventually killing the host.
Juldo Made: A term used by the Juldo and other species’ for the process and end result of infecting another species and turning them Juldo.
Shadow Born: A Juldo Assassin. Their ancestry is unknown. The Shadow Born were believed to be eradicated by the Old Juldo Master hundreds of years ago after they became too powerful and hard to control. A Shadow Born is believed to be so formidable it would take an army to destroy him. They are not as dependent on nano-mites, but it is unknown why. The Juldo are secretive about their Shadow Born and their capabilities.
Kilbus: A raiding species. They are led by one lord for thousands of years.
Xixin: A feline species. They are currently ruled by four brothers, four kings, the first to share the throne in their royal line, until they challenge each other for the throne. The males mate several females in a pride until a challenger takes his place in the pride. Description: Their height ranges between six and seven feet. Their females are known to be larger than the males. Their color ranges from dark shades of brown to deep gold. They have a great deal of fur to protect their skin from the elements of their home planet, as well as large incisors and claws as offensive traits. They have excellent night vision and an extraordinary sense of smell.
Guhuvin: An avian species, they are known for their skills of flight. They are a peaceful species but are fiercely protective of their home and nests. Their Guhuvin steel is highly sought after throughout the universe. They are led by a king and his flight captains.
Zythen: Sexless species. Protectors by nature, they bond to a being they deem defenseless.
Galactic Order: A large group of alien species’ joined in an alliance.
Galactic Council: A group of twelve seats of different species by invitation alone. They enforce Galactic Law throughout the members of the Order.
Home World: The Dahk’s home planet. Dark due to their dying sun. It is known for its various types of toyl stones. The Dahk use them to light their homes and for trade with other species who use them as a fuel source.
Ilyndahdus: Warmest landmass on Home World.
Ilynda: Home World’s trading city. (Outside of Ilyndahdus)
Juldoris: The Juldo home planet.
Hugund: The Galactic Order Outpost. Home to various species, Hugund was built among the moons and the remains of the Orders’ chosen home planet. The planet died hundreds of years ago for reasons unknown.
Heraterran: Scorching planet filled with multiple species, known for its slave auctions and unlawful trading.
Battler Games: The Juldo fighting games. Species throughout the universe travel to watch the games and the slaves of the Juldo forced to fight.
Rite: Dahk burial ceremony.
Hima: Dahk word and interpretation of their ‘ear’. Also referred to as a hima canal.
Galactic Vernacular for telling time: Sunring- ‘Day’, Sunspin- ‘Year’, Dimtide- ‘Hour’, Spin- ‘Minute’, Click- ‘Second’. Actual times vary from species to species based on how their time is judged.
Dahkish: Dahk Ancestors. Often used as an exclamation of surprise or great emotion.
Huktbores: Galactic curse word. Often used to express anger, surprise, or rage.
Yula: Galactic vernacular for ‘Star’.
Ruhasha: Galactic vernacular meaning ‘Treasure’ Or ‘Prized’.
Dahk Hierarchy: All Dahk are ruled by one king. His House the ruling line, passed down from each generation. A king has a personal council that will aid him and give him guidance during his rule. He will grant his chosen members of his council a ‘Rise’, placing them in their position. He will Rise a Commander to lead his army. A Dahk Commander will also have a personal council. He, too, will hand-pick its members and grant them the ‘Rise’. A Dahk House is their immediate family and those they extend an invitation to join. A House is comprised of a ‘First Father’ and several of his mates that his own ‘First Father’ have matched him with. These mates have their own hierarchy, ‘First Mate, ‘Second Mate’, and so on.
If there’s something here you don’t see and want added, or more detailed. Hit me up at [email protected]
Thank you for reading Juldo Made!
Chapter One of Willow: Defy the Ravaged Book One
E.M. Raegan
“Mom?” I pushed my headphones off my ears and looked back at my bedroom door. I could have sworn I heard a scream. “Mom?”
I listened again but didn’t hear anything. I sighed and tossed my book aside. I was on summer break from college and taking advantage of the peace and quiet to crack open a few of my twenty-five-cent-bin finds. I was normally left home alone, so it was strange to hear anyone here during the day. My mom was usually out spending Rick’s mon
ey while he worked and slept around with his office secretary. They had been dating for three years now, and their dysfunctional relationship put me off having one of my own.
I climbed over the mess of books and clothes on my floor. I was pretty messy for a twenty-one-year-old, but I would rather stick my nose in a book than keep everything pristine like my mother did. I flicked on my lamp so I could see where I walked. My room had heavy black-out curtains because I was an insomniac and usually took several naps during the day. I quickly wiped the Cheeto cheese from my torn jeans and Weezer T-shirt so my mom wouldn’t harp on me and cracked open my door.
At first, I thought I had imagined her screaming; but the sunlight was bright and caught on the silver buckles of her designer handbag on the entry table. I had assumed she left this morning while I was asleep, but both her and Rick’s shoes were still lined up perfectly by the front door. Mom never left shoes out unless they were the ones she was going to wear─she was anal about clutter. Something vibrated on the counter, and I looked at Rick’s phone as it skittered on the countertop.
I looked back at my clock. It was eleven in the morning. There was no way they would both still be home. Rick left at six on the dot, and Mom was out the door at eight sharp. They never deviated from their schedules. And it was super out of the ordinary for them to come home, especially while the other was still here. They avoided each other like the plague.
They shouldn’t even still be together, but I had a feeling Rick still supported her for my sake. He may be unfaithful, but he was the best stand-in dad a girl could have. He loved me almost as much as I loved him.