Blurb
What would you sacrifice to meet the man of your
dreams?
dreams?
Zroya lives a sheltered life within the Southern Installation. Protected from
the ‘contamination’ that brought humanity to the brink of extinction, she’s
terrified to leave the safety of the known for the unknown. Even though women
are treated like cattle within the Installation, it’s still familiar. However,
it’s now Zroya’s time to become a breeder, she balks and is imprisoned.
Slaughter D’Reaper has been free from Installation control for sixteen years
and thanks the Creator every day for that privilege. Now, he and his brothers
are hunting for Zroya, to give her that same choice. How does he know about
Zroya? From dreams that have been sent to him since he was fourteen. His
obsession knows no bounds as he tears apart the country of Amelorica searching
for the woman he’s come to love.
But is it true love? Or only a dream?
This story is a cross between sleeping
beauty mixed with Dr. Jekyll and Miss Hyde.
Excerpt
Draper
had given her an apple. No one had ever thought of her well being before. In
the Installation Zroya had always fended for herself, she could never depend on
anyone for anything. That precious gesture warmed a place deep inside. She knew
he’d meant both apples for himself. And instead he’d made do with only the one,
so she’d be fed. Her thoughts circled her as she released the bolts from her
crossbows.
had given her an apple. No one had ever thought of her well being before. In
the Installation Zroya had always fended for herself, she could never depend on
anyone for anything. That precious gesture warmed a place deep inside. She knew
he’d meant both apples for himself. And instead he’d made do with only the one,
so she’d be fed. Her thoughts circled her as she released the bolts from her
crossbows.
“Zroya,
you ready to wrap it up?” Sara asked from across the pavilion.
you ready to wrap it up?” Sara asked from across the pavilion.
“One
more round?” Zroya snagged the bolts, reloaded her weapon and set the
string.
more round?” Zroya snagged the bolts, reloaded her weapon and set the
string.
“Okay.”
As she
sighted the target, Zroya thought about how Draper didn’t criticize her
technique or stance. He’d shown her where she could practice and left her to
it. Tears sheened her eyes, he was so different from anyone she’d ever met
before. And she’d acted like a scared rabbit rushing to put Sara between them
to not feel crowded. Swiping her face with her shoulder, she pulled the trigger
and the bolts hit the center one after the other.
sighted the target, Zroya thought about how Draper didn’t criticize her
technique or stance. He’d shown her where she could practice and left her to
it. Tears sheened her eyes, he was so different from anyone she’d ever met
before. And she’d acted like a scared rabbit rushing to put Sara between them
to not feel crowded. Swiping her face with her shoulder, she pulled the trigger
and the bolts hit the center one after the other.
Damnable
things. she had come to hate the weapons she’d been given as a mocking send off
by her father. The only woman to have them her father claimed it’d give her
value in the Western Installation. Instead, the things had been used against
her by the Commander, held against her and her mother’s head in a teasing game
that had enraged her on the trip to trade her to the Western Installation.
things. she had come to hate the weapons she’d been given as a mocking send off
by her father. The only woman to have them her father claimed it’d give her
value in the Western Installation. Instead, the things had been used against
her by the Commander, held against her and her mother’s head in a teasing game
that had enraged her on the trip to trade her to the Western Installation.
Refusing
to allow the bastards to win, Zroya had forced herself to place the crossbows
into their loops before she left her room this morning. When she gripped the
weapons, her breath hitched as memories shredded her sanity.
to allow the bastards to win, Zroya had forced herself to place the crossbows
into their loops before she left her room this morning. When she gripped the
weapons, her breath hitched as memories shredded her sanity.
It took
over an hour before she could hit the center mass with her shaking hands. But
her perseverance paid off as her memories receded and the weapons began to feel
like hers again. Satisfied with how well she did, Zroya took the bolts from the
bale of hay for the last time and loped to where Sara waited.
over an hour before she could hit the center mass with her shaking hands. But
her perseverance paid off as her memories receded and the weapons began to feel
like hers again. Satisfied with how well she did, Zroya took the bolts from the
bale of hay for the last time and loped to where Sara waited.
“Did
you get to watch Draper train?”
you get to watch Draper train?”
Zroya’s
face flooded with heat.
face flooded with heat.
“I’ll
take that as a yes.” Sara opened up a bottle and took a gulp. Swallowing,
she recapped it. “I’m going to tell you. That man is smoking with a
capital ‘S’.”
take that as a yes.” Sara opened up a bottle and took a gulp. Swallowing,
she recapped it. “I’m going to tell you. That man is smoking with a
capital ‘S’.”
Confused,
Zroya looked at Sara. “Smoking? He smokes?”
Zroya looked at Sara. “Smoking? He smokes?”
Sara
laughed. “No. It means he’s really attractive. They don’t have that saying
where you’re from?”
laughed. “No. It means he’s really attractive. They don’t have that saying
where you’re from?”
“No,
and yes,” a smile spread across her face. “Draper is smoking.”
and yes,” a smile spread across her face. “Draper is smoking.”
Sara
nudged Zroya’s shoulder. “You sound so proper when you say it. But don’t
worry Birch and I will get you caught up on all the appropriate slang.”
nudged Zroya’s shoulder. “You sound so proper when you say it. But don’t
worry Birch and I will get you caught up on all the appropriate slang.”
She
chuckled, delighted after hearing about Birch from Sara, Zroya was curious
about this other warrior woman. Another thing to thank Draper for was the
opportunity to have friends.
chuckled, delighted after hearing about Birch from Sara, Zroya was curious
about this other warrior woman. Another thing to thank Draper for was the
opportunity to have friends.
“Thinking
about him again?” Sara plopped down on the bench.
about him again?” Sara plopped down on the bench.
“Yes.”
Zroya toyed with the hem of her shirt. “I don’t know what to do.”
Zroya toyed with the hem of her shirt. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Don’t
do anything. It’s still early. This was the first time you’ve even seen him
without him being passed out.” Sara leaned her elbows on her knees.
“It’s odd, Draper has never shown an interest in any other female.”
do anything. It’s still early. This was the first time you’ve even seen him
without him being passed out.” Sara leaned her elbows on her knees.
“It’s odd, Draper has never shown an interest in any other female.”
“None?
Why?” Zroya couldn’t imagine the handsome man not having a large
following.
Why?” Zroya couldn’t imagine the handsome man not having a large
following.
Sara
hummed. “I asked him once, but he was so sad when he answered I never
broached the subject again.”
hummed. “I asked him once, but he was so sad when he answered I never
broached the subject again.”
“What
did he say?”
did he say?”
“He
said that his woman could only be found in his dreams.”
said that his woman could only be found in his dreams.”
Zroya’s
heart raced and her eyes focused on her fingers as they worried her shirt.
heart raced and her eyes focused on her fingers as they worried her shirt.
“Did
you two share dreams by chance?” Sara asked.
you two share dreams by chance?” Sara asked.
What
could she say that was safe? Was it even her place to answer for Draper? Most
of Draper’s dreams were her mother’s doing. She took a deep breath. “I’ve
only shared a few dreams. But my mother had to be the conduit.” Sighing
Zroya explained. “It was my mother sending him her visions that he
probably remembers the most.”
could she say that was safe? Was it even her place to answer for Draper? Most
of Draper’s dreams were her mother’s doing. She took a deep breath. “I’ve
only shared a few dreams. But my mother had to be the conduit.” Sighing
Zroya explained. “It was my mother sending him her visions that he
probably remembers the most.”
“Honey,
I don’t think it was your mother Draper was drooling over this morning.”
I don’t think it was your mother Draper was drooling over this morning.”
“Really?”
Zroya’s head jerked up. She had been looking at how his dark gray shirt molded
to his muscled chest and the black combat pants lovingly hugged his rear.
Conflicting emotions roiled in her, on the one hand Draper drew her to him.
Whether because of the dreams or if it was something else, she didn’t know. And
on the other, he terrified her. What were his expectations?
Zroya’s head jerked up. She had been looking at how his dark gray shirt molded
to his muscled chest and the black combat pants lovingly hugged his rear.
Conflicting emotions roiled in her, on the one hand Draper drew her to him.
Whether because of the dreams or if it was something else, she didn’t know. And
on the other, he terrified her. What were his expectations?
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Author Bio:
CeeRee Fields currently lives in Groningen, the
Netherlands with her husband and cat. Since she was born in Alabama and moved
to the Netherlands, Dutch is not her
first language which gets her into mischief in various stores around town when
she tries to speak it.
Netherlands with her husband and cat. Since she was born in Alabama and moved
to the Netherlands, Dutch is not her
first language which gets her into mischief in various stores around town when
she tries to speak it.
She loves writing, building worlds that her
characters can explore and break if they feel the need. Action, adventure and
love are her favorite things. And when stuff gets blown up who says the guy is
the only one who gets to do it?
characters can explore and break if they feel the need. Action, adventure and
love are her favorite things. And when stuff gets blown up who says the guy is
the only one who gets to do it?
She can be found at:
Website: www.ceereefields.com
Twitter: twitter.com/ceereefields
Facebook: facebook.com/ceereefields
