Seleste deLaney - Badlands

Badlands

By Seleste deLaney

After a brutal Civil War, America is a land divided. As commander of her nations border guards, Ever is a warrior sworn to protect her country and her queen. When an airship attacks and kills the monarch, Ever must infiltrate enemy territory to bring home the heir to the throne, and the dirigible Dark Hawk is her fastest way to the Union.

Captain Spencer Pierce just wants to pay off the debt he owes on the Dark Hawk and make a life for himself trading across the border. When the queens assassination puts the shipping routes at risk, he finds himself Evers reluctant ally.

As they fly into danger, Ever and Spencer must battle not only the enemy but also their growing attraction. She refuses to place her heart before duty, and he has always put the needs of his ship and crew above his own desires. Once the princess is rescued, perhaps they can find love in the Badlandsif death doesnt find them first

Dear Reader,

A new year always brings with it a sense of expectation and promise (and maybe a vague sense of guilt). Expectation because we dont know what the year will bring exactly, but promise because we always hope it will be good things. The guilt is due to all of the New Years resolutions we make with such good intentions.

This year, Carina Press is making a New Years resolution we know we wont have any reason to feel guilty about: were going to bring our readers a year of fantastic editorial and diverse genre content. So far, our plans for 2011 include staff and author appearances at reader-focused conferences such as the RT Booklovers Convention in April, where well be offering up goodies, appearing on panels, giving workshops and hosting a few fun activities for readers. Were also cooking up several genre-specific release weeks, during which well highlight individual genres. So far we have plans for steampunk week and unusual fantasy week. Readers will have access to free reads, discounts, contests and more as part of our week-long promotions!

But even when were not doing special promotions, were still offering something special to our readers in the form of the stories authors are delivering to Carina Press that were passing on to you. From sweet romance to sexy, and military science fiction to fairy-tale fantasy, from mysteries to romantic suspense, were proud to be offering a wide variety of genres and tales of escapism to our customers in this new year. Every week is a new adventure, and we want to bring our readers along on the journey. Be daring, be brave and try something new with Carina Press in 2011!

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to Kelley Armstrong for kicking my butt in the nicest way possible (more than once) and for telling me time and again not to give up. Without your support, I wouldnt have dedications to write. Thanks for everything.

Acknowledgements

So many people helped get this story ready for primetime, and Im sure Ill end up missing someone. If its you, please forgive me.

To my fabulous beta readers: Chris, Danielle, Janelle, Ken, Steve and Terri. You guys made me laugh and made me cry. Thankfully, it was more of the former.

To my writing group who helped tear up the first chapter or two for memuch Rebel love to you all.

Thank you to Angela James and the entire Carina Press acquisitions team for taking a chance on me. However, the biggest thank you goes to my editor, Gina Bernal, who loved this story and characters as much as I did and pushed me to make them the best they could be.

And always, I owe my husband and my kids for their undying patience and love, without which I would never get a story finished.

Contents

Chapter One

The tent flap swished open and Ever shielded her eyes from the glare. Her second-in-command eased inside. Were behind schedule, Catherine. Where have you been?

Stripping out of the simple tunic and pants the border guards wore in the desert, the curvy brunette shrugged. Jaye announced her engagement. It was all I could do to get the other women back to their tents to change. She raised a brow as she looked at Ever. Im surprised she gave the news without you there.

Jaye knows I do not approve.

Of men or marriage?

Evers fingers deftly slid buttons through the decorative loops on her jacket. I have never discouraged the pursuit of sex. Without some release, wed all go mad. She twisted her long hair up and pinned it. Marriage is another matter entirely. A distraction.

Catherines hand fell on her shoulder. Queen Lavinia has brought us the closest thing to peace the Badlands has seen since the Union first began sending prisoners into exile. If any of us are to find happiness, now is the time.

That you equate men with happiness proves you dont understand anything. She shrugged off Catherines grip.

Not all men who live here are criminals.

With one hand on the flap, Ever paused. That is only because we do not provide them the opportunity. She stepped outside, hoping the brutal desert air would scour away some of her irritation.

For seven years, shed patrolled the borders, capturing the men sent across the Mississippior killing them if necessary. Shed seen the true heart of evil. It made what Queen Lavinia and her predecessors created out of the harsh mountains and deserts all the more precious. Even the natives respected the Badlands and all it stood for: honor, loyalty, obedience, and above all the power of women. Ever would proudly give her life to protect the fragile peace of her homeland.

Divided loyalties had no place along the borders.

Ever paced outside the tents, waiting for her troops to gather. With a grimace, she tugged at her snug formal jacket. The uniform was ridiculous. She could barely move; this wasnt the attire of a Badlands warrior. Even with nothing beneath, it was too tight. At least these state dinners only came around once or twice a year.

Minutes ticked away as sweat began to dampen the fabric. She refused to give the women under her command any longer. It was time to go.

Ever opened her mouth to bellow the order when a shrill noise pierced the still air of the Painted Desert.

The siren.

Eyes wide, Ever yelled, Weapons! Now!

She ducked back into the tent. Catherine had already slid her knives into their sheaths and slung a rifle over her shoulder. Drill?

Ever shook her head. Queen Lavinia might have a strange sense of humor, but she would never sound a drill without announcing it to the senior officers.

The prisoners then?

Perhaps.

Ever hated to consider the implications. The queens southern fortress housed the worst of the criminals the United States sent over the border. If theyd truly escaped

She could only hope some overzealous steward sounded the alarm due to an uprising inside the cells.

But she had to assume otherwise.

She tore off the jacket and strapped on her weapons belt. Instinct told her not to waste time with anything elsewith her tight, high breasts, she could fight naked if she had to. Crossbow flung over her shoulder, she dashed from the tent.

The rest of the women waited in various stages of undress but all were loaded with weapons. Ever nodded at them and they raced toward the fortress, their feet pounding out a rhythm on the packed sand. Spooked by the siren, horses would take longer than traveling on foot.