Welcome to Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. On the surface, it’s a web ring of authors who post snippets of their work for comment. In reality, it’s a close-knit group of friends and colleagues working together to support and encourage one another and promote the science fiction and fantasy genres.

Today’s snippet returns to SOVRAN’S PAWN. (Released yesterday and now available in e-book and Kindle on Amazon and Smashwords.) Begging your indulgence, it’s slightly longer than the usual snippets. I hope you enjoy it, and remember ~ Nothing is what it seems…

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Lord Marin nodded and studied him with a speculative gleam in his blue eyes. A slow smile curved his lips. “I have an assignment for you, boy.”

“I don’t work for the IC anymore, my Lord.”

“You swore an oath, boy. You work for the IC as long as I say you do. Unless, of course, you’d like to face those desertion charges you seem so proud of.”

It was an empty threat. It had to be. Blade studied his face for some sign that he was bluffing. Finding nothing but a pleasant smile that indicated the Sovran didn’t care one way or another, Blade’s throat tightened.

“You wouldn’t send me to prison,” Blade said with more certainty than he felt. “You don’t want me in prison.”

Marin shook his head. “A wise man would hear me out before digging in his heels.”

Blade reluctantly nodded. “As you say, my Lord.” He clenched his jaw so tightly, he felt a muscle twitch in it.

“I want you to get close to her.”

Blade blinked twice, not certain he heard correctly. “Sir?”

“I want you to cultivate the Barron as an asset. Gain her trust. Get her loyalty.”

“If you want her loyalty, sir, all you have to do is pardon her. She just wants to go home to her people. She wants her honor back.”

“Yes, but I don’t want that. I want to know how important it is to Lord Scull that she dies in disgrace. Keep her openly as your mistress, but keep a professional distance. Never forget she’s only an asset and a potential threat to the stability of the Commonwealth.”

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That’s the snippet for the week. Thank you for stopping by. Please take the time to visit the other wonderful authors taking part in Science Fiction/Fantasy Saturday!

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SOVRAN’S PAWN

United by extortion, divided by duty, someone wants them both dead. They want each other. The catch is, nothing is what it seems…

Convicted of treason and sentenced to be executed, Bo Barron is the last person who should be infiltrating a Sub-socia weapons auction. But when her father is kidnapped and the ransom demand is the schematics to an experimental weapon, she has no choice but to go under cover with her uncle to get it.

Nobody counted on former-government-agent-turned-holofeature-hero Blade Devon’s infatuation with her. A botched assassination under the guise of a bar brawl leaves Bo blind and Blade wondering if there isn’t more to this job than he was led to believe.

Never able to resist playing the hero, Blade tends her injuries and delves deeper into the intrigue only to find this mission isn’t about a weapon at all. It’s about two Sovrans’ maneuvering for control, with Bo and Blade as their pawns.

All Bo and Blade have to do is figure out how to survive the game they didn’t know they were playing.