I’ve been working on a surprise for fans of The Pruxnae Series. Thief of Hearts is a novella-length prequel to The Choosing featuring Alna Lomig and Gared ab Einif, Ryn abid Alna’s adoptive parents. It takes place about thirty (Earth) years prior to The Choosing and is set on Alna’s home planet, Zinod, not far from Abyw. 

A release date and the first scene should be available soon. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this snippet of conversation between Gared and his brother, Reitem, taken from the first chapter of Thief of Hearts.

A Beautiful Woman, Strong and Brave…

Gared studied her from beneath the shadows of his hooded coat, considering possibilities, and a ray of hope for something he’d never thought to have ignited in his gut.

Maybe it was time to rethink his position on taking a wife.

“Raiding season is always open on Zinod,” he murmured.

“They like the challenge,” Reitem said. “Think they can outwit us or some such nonsense, like we haven’t figured out a way to counter their security measures and smuggle our treasure off-planet.”

“A Pruxnæ always gets his woman.”

“And you want her?”

Gared shrugged. “Can you spare the time for a dance and a light flirt?”

“For those, always. I’ll even do you the favor of distracting her friend.”

Gared cut a side-eyed glance at his brother and grinned. “I don’t know, Reitem. She’s a little scrawny for you.”

“Save your humor for the woman, brother.” Reitem leaned close and lowered his voice. “I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”

Maybe so, and maybe the woman would be of no interest once Gared had coaxed her into spending time with him.

He dug local currency out of the pocket on the inside of his coat. A suitor bearing gifts was more likely to be received, and he wanted to witness the woman’s pleasure again.

Among other things.