Only Good Enemies
Author: Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Jennifer Estep
Release Date: July 18, 2023
Series: Galactic Bonds #2
Genre: Sci-Fi Fantasy Romance
Snippet:
Tivona chewed on her lower lip. “When do you think the Techwave will approach you?”
“I don’t know, exactly. But soon. Maybe even later today.”
She blinked. “Today? Are you sure?”
That was the problem with being a seer. I wasn’t always sure, especially when it came to other people’s schemes, schedules, and agendas. But over the past couple of weeks, I’d had vivid, recurring dreams—nightmares, really—of being surrounded by Black Scarabs, the Techwave troops known for their black armor and being more machine than man. More than once, I’d woken up in a cold sweat, certain my magic was trying to tell me something, and the most obvious interpretation was that the Techwave was targeting me.
“All I know for sure is that the Techwave is going to approach me sooner or later. Rowena, Sabine, and Conrad aren’t around to help them anymore, and according to the information I found in the Kent Corp mainframe, the Techwavers need my expertise to finish the weapons they have in development, especially if they want to figure out some way to kill Callus Holloway.”
In addition to being a cruel, clever, wily ruler, Holloway was also a siphon who could absorb energy from other people, machines, and even the weather, if the rumors were true. An energy bolt from a typical blaster or hand cannon would only add to Holloway’s own psion power, rather than injuring him the way it would a regular person.
When she had kidnapped me, Julieta Delano had said that the Techwave was searching for a way to kill Holloway—and so was I. Because if Holloway ever discovered that Kyrion and I were bonded, the Imperium ruler would stop at nothing to get his hands on us. But right now, the Techwave was the bigger threat. Once I figured out a way to destroy them, then I would worry about Holloway—and the unwanted connection I still shared with Kyrion.
“I could increase security,” Tivona offered. “Have some guards shadow you. Then, when the Techwavers move in, the guards can apprehend them.”
I shook my head. “No. We can’t risk it. The Techwave might have already bribed some Quill Corp guards to work for them. Even if we knew that all the guards were loyal to us, I still wouldn’t want innocent people getting hurt. This is my fight, and I’m going to finish it.”
Tivona kept chewing her lip, worry written all over her face.
“Instead of wasting weeks or months trying to find their current base, I’ll let the Techwavers approach me, pretend to be open to whatever they suggest, and plant as many trackers on them as possible.” I gestured at the eye jewels. “When they leave, the Techwavers will take my trackers along with them. I’ll send the location information to Daichi so he can pass it along to Kyrion. With any luck, the Arrows and Imperium soldiers can raid the base and eliminate the Techwavers once and for all.”
Tivona stabbed her finger at me. “But if things don’t go the way you expect, you’ll use an emergency beacon to alert me and the nearest guards?”
I drew an X over my heart with my finger. “Promise.”
She nodded, and a more speculative look filled her face. “What are you going to do when Kyrion realizes that the Techwave has approached you? He’ll contact you, especially if the truebond is still as strong as you think it is.”
Eagerness, wariness, and other conflicting emotions churned in my chest like comets circling around and around, but I blew out a breath and forced myself to relax. Then I shoved all those pesky feelings into a box and buried it in the bottom of my brain, although I couldn’t quite get rid of the fragile hope that clung to the corner of my heart like a sticky cobweb.
“Kyrion won’t sense anything,” I said, struggling to keep my voice light and even. “He thinks the bond was broken when we drank those chemicals in Touma Hirano’s workshop, and he has no reason to believe we are still connected in any way, shape, or form.”
A hard knot of regret clogged my throat, but I swallowed it down. “Besides, Kyrion never wanted the bond. Even if he realized that we are still connected, he wouldn’t contact me. The best thing for him would be if I went somewhere far, far away where no one could find me, especially not Callus Holloway.”
“Is that really what you want, Vesper?” Tivona asked in a soft voice. “To never see Kyrion again?”
My gaze strayed out through the glass into the lab. Bodie was still watching the gossipcast, and the image of Kyrion striding down that never-ending hallway was back on the screen.
“It doesn’t matter what I want,” I replied, my raspy voice betraying me. “Only what is. I told Kyrion, Holloway, and the rest of the Regals a good lie during the last ball. That’s the story they believe, so that’s the one I’m going to keep telling them.”
Tivona stared at me. After a few seconds, she pulled her tablet out of her pocket and started scrolling through screens. “Well, if you are still determined to go through with this, let’s review the plan again. I’ve got guards stationed at all the campus exits monitoring the security feeds. They have standing orders to rush to your side the second they see anything suspicious . . .”
Her words washed over me. I nodded along and listened with half an ear, but once again my gaze locked onto the gossipcast still playing on Bodie’s terminal.
I had been wrong before. I might have lied to Kyrion about us not having a truebond, but it hadn’t been a good lie.
No, the only good lies were the ones you believed yourself.
About the Book:
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep continues her Galactic Bonds series with a new, action-packed adventure that blends science fiction, fantasy, and historical romance. This rollicking space opera features a mix of magic and technology, along with a soul mates, slow burn, and enemies-to-lovers story. Perfect for fans of Star Wars, Bridgerton, and Pride and Prejudice.
A WOMAN ON A MISSION . . .
My name is Vesper Quill. I used to be a lowly lab rat, toiling away in obscurity developing brewmakers and other household appliances. But thanks to my seer magic and my own ingenuity, I’m now a Regal lady and the head of a successful corporation.
My mission? To destroy the Techwave, the dangerous group that has stolen my designs and plans to weaponize them against the Imperium. But when my mission takes an unexpected turn, I’m once again surrounded by enemies and fighting for my life.
Further complicating matters is Kyrion Caldaren, an arrogant Regal lord whose fate is bound to mine. Kyrion doesn’t realize the two of us still have an unwanted connection that puts us both in grave danger . . . or does he?
A MAN SURROUNDED BY ENEMIES . . .
My name is Kyrion Caldaren. As the leader of the Arrows, the Imperium’s elite fighting force, I’ve been tasked with tracking down and destroying the Techwave before they seize control of the Archipelago Galaxy.
My other mission? Find a way to assassinate Lord Callus Holloway, the Imperium ruler who wants to take my psion power for his own. Holloway is also a threat to Vesper Quill, who haunts my thoughts, despite the broken bond and distance between us.
When I realize Vesper is in danger, my priorities change, and I vow to use all my telepathic, telekinetic, and other abilities to help her. I will save Vesper from her enemies and mine—even if I have to burn down the whole bloody galaxy.
Purchase links:
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ABOUT THE AUDIOBOOKS: ✨⚔️📕
Only Good Enemies will also be available as an audiobook. Those links will go online later this summer.
About the Author:
Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.
Only Good Enemies, book #2 in her Galactic Bonds science-fiction fantasy romance series, will be released July 18.
Jennifer is also the author of the Section 47, Elemental Assassin, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 45 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.
In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.
For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow Jennifer on Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, BookBub, and Twitter. You can also sign up for her newsletter.
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