Forged in Fire by Kayelle Allen

Forged in FireBringer of Chaos Book 2by Kayelle AllenGenre: Sci-Fi Romance
Immortals may heal, but a wound of the heart lasts forever...
When the immortal Pietas is marooned on a barren world with no food and few survival tools, he knows it could be worse. He could be alone. But that's the problem. He's not.Half a million of his people sleep in cryostasis, trapped inside their pods and it's up to Pietas to free them. He can't release one at a time. It's all or nothing. He's facing over five hundred thousand hungry, thirsty, homeless immortals who will call on him for rescue and he has no way to answer.It's not all bad. The beautiful telepathic warrior he's loved for lifetimes is at his side. He's bonded with a sentient panther. He hates humans but the one dumped on this planet with him has become a trusted friend.Before Pietas can build shelter, figure out how to grow food, or set up a government, he must take back command from a ruthless enemy he's fought for centuries. His brutal, merciless father.Immortals may heal, but a wound of the heart lasts forever...

"WARNING"

Contains humor, sweet romance, betrayal, angst, vengeance... and a ginormous, sentient black panther who wants to be Pietas's "kitty."
**FREE from 3/23 – 3/27!!**
Goodreads * Amazon

In this scene, Pietas has been playing with his panther, a huge animal he calls Tiklaus. The name means "Loyal Warrior."

Tiklaus batted at him, knocked Pietas onto his back and then flipped itself down beside him. The panther wrapped its front legs around his arm and gnawed at it in gentle play while the hind feet kicked him without injury. Claws flashed, but did no harm.Now I know how a chew toy feels. Pietas blew out a breath.When the panther draped itself over his chest, Pietas struggled to slide out from under but could not get up. The animal weighed less than he did, but with no visible effort, it kept him from rising."I concede, my friend. You win."The panther ignored him."Tiklaus, off."Nothing."Off, please."The panther yawned, opening a huge maw. Fangs flashed.Pietas tried a signal that worked with sparring partners and asked for release by double-tapping the panther's side.The cat stood at once and stepped over him. It shook from nose to tail, then sat and groomed itself.He stood and brushed himself off. Standing beside Tiklaus, who reached him mid-thigh, Pietas took pride in knowing this sweet, playful cat was also the snarling ball of animal rage that had nailed his father to the ground. The man had not seen it coming.He should have let the cat eat him when he had the chance.Pietas ensured no one was on the path in either direction before he knelt and scratched the cat's ears. "Who's a good kitty?"The animal sneaked in a lick of his hand and face and flopped down on its back."My Tiklaus, that's who. Tiklaus is a good kitty." He rubbed the smooth belly. "Yes, you are! Such a good, big kitty. You're my kitty, aren't you? Good, good kitty."The panther accepted the attention, one paw twitching. After a moment, it stood and shook itself. A purring sound rumbled from its chest. It sat, licked one paw and added a lick of Pietas's face as well."Thank you for the bath." He hugged the panther's neck. "You have as soft a heart as I do but you don't show it either. Pact, my friend. I won't tell if you won't." He kissed Tiklaus on the nose.The panther bumped its head against Pietas, then bounded to a tree and up it.

Kayelle Allen did a tour in the US Navy, where she climbed around airplanes (on the ground, thankfully) fixing black boxes that helped pilots find their way home.

She wrote her first science fiction novel at 18 and to this day, it's hidden under the bed, where she vows it will remain. Gems from it, however, launched several series in her galaxy-wide universe of stories.From childhood, Kayelle was the victim of an overactive imagination and inherited the Irish gift of gab from her mother. From her father, she got a healthy respect for mechanical things.No wonder she writes Science Fiction and Fantasy peopled with misbehaving robots, mythic heroes, role playing immortal gamers, and warriors who purr. She's been married so long she's tenured.
Website * Readers Group * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Amazon * Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway