This week’s guest author is the clever and prolific Kayelle Allen, here to share her latest steamy sci-fi read, Alitus: Tales of the Chosen.

Alitus – Tales of the Chosen

How is this ever going to work…

Ordered by the Empress to find out if the lover of a friend is having an affair, Alitus investigates. As Minister of Imperial Intelligence, Alitus has access to every camera and remote in the empire. Which is a problem, because Wulf’s affair is with Alitus.

As a Better, an enhanced human, Alitus can touch no one — his pheromones are addictive. Isolated and under scrutiny, he keeps his affair with Wulf secret, because Wulf belongs to another, a powerful man allied with the empress. When the man asks the empress to investigate, Wulf’s relationship with Alitus could be exposed. Complicating matters, the empress reveals her immortality, and requires Alitus to prove his loyalty. Her test throws him straight into Wulf’s arms, right in front of the empress and Wulf’s lover. Hiding what he and Wulf are to each other has taken discipline and denial.

Now, it will take a miracle…

In this scene from Alitus – Tales of the Chosen, the hero is making his first public appearance in a veil, a head-to-shoulders garment similar to a burqa. Betters are enhanced humans whose pheromones can addict and whose voices put a human in thrall. Now regulated by the imperial government, the must wear an electronic veil that alters their voices and removes their pheromones.

Alitus tilted back his head and set a hand atop the veil to keep it from slipping.

Prentice, the android servant and bodyguard of the Empress, towered over everyone.

“What do you want?”

“Her Majesty asked me to watch over you.” Though never far from the Empress, Prentice did not make his presence obvious. Easy to forget he was there.

“You’ve watched me. Tell her I don’t need a watchdog. I will do my duty.”

“Is the veil heavy? You keep lowering your head.”

“No.” Alitus adjusted the hang across his shoulders and pulled it away from his body in front. “It’s hot. I can hardly breathe.”

“Perhaps you should turn it on.”

“What?” Alitus held the veil against his face so he could better see. “It’s hard to hear.”

“Touch the inner brim above your right ear.”

Alitus stroked one finger along the edge and found a series of small bumps.

“Press them from front to back to increase the cooling effect.”

Bracing himself for a breeze, Alitus touched the first bump. Instead, the humidity lessened. He took the first deep breath he’d been able to draw since donning the garment. “Thank you.”

“The ones about a finger’s width above them adjust visibility. Did no one show you how to operate it?”

“No. I didn’t know there was anything else to it.” Alitus touched the upper bumps; the room’s brightness increased by half. He tapped the others in sequence. His view of the veil disappeared. “Is this still opaque?” He held up a hand. “I can see every stitch in my glove.”

“You’ll be able to see in any lighting, but no one will be able to see you.”

“Great. I’ll be invisible.”

Prentice leaned toward him. “Almost like an android.”

Universal Buy Link https://books2read.com/alitus-chosen

Read book 1 in this series free.

Wulf – Tales of the Chosen

Luc protected Wulf from harm, but endangered his own son. Now, it’s beyond protection. It’s personal…

Universal Link https://books2read.com/wulf-chosen

Sci-fi Author Kayelle Allen

About Kayelle Allen

Kayelle Allen writes Sci Fi with misbehaving robots, mythic heroes, role-playing immortal gamers, and warriors who purr. She is the author of multiple books, novellas, and short stories. She’s also a US Navy veteran and has been married so long she’s tenured.
Sign up for her newsletter and get free Sci-Fi stories, book recommendations, and become a Tarthian Empire citizen (and an immortal), among other reader exclusives. https://kayelleallen.com/immortality
Twitter http://twitter.com/kayelleallen
Instagram https://instagram.com/kayelleallen
Kayelle’s Keepers http://facebook.com/groups/KayellesKeepers
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kayelle-allen
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/710889.Kayelle_Allen
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Kayelle-Allen/e/B003ZRXVN8

Some questions for the author: 

What do you love about the genre you write in?

I’m free to decide the history and culture of the worlds I choose for stories. No one is going to look up Tarth and tell me they don’t do that there. I love the freedom that gives me. On the other hand, I’m my own worst critic when it comes to details. I published the Tarthian Empire Companion for readers to see my world in a deeper way. So, if they read that, maybe they can tell me they don’t do that on Tarth!

What’s your favorite part of the writing life?

I love getting emails from readers who have questions or want to talk about the stories and characters. I have a newsletter and frequently get feedback. I’ve had the most amazing discussions with readers because of that. I send it out every other week, and readers can sign up to become citizens of the Tarthian Empire, and even an immortal. You get inside peeks at the characters and world, and freebies that aren’t available anywhere else.

Do you have any particular writing quirks? A special object, snack, music, etc. that helps you with your writing process?

I wear a fingerless glove on my right hand when I write. I mouse so much that my hand gets worn out and I need the glove for protection.

Any advice for aspiring writers?

Take the free course from David Gaughran called Starting From Zero. It’s amazing. His advice is some of the best out there, and he doesn’t try to upsell you on seminars, webinars and pricey books.

Which authors have inspired you?

I reread books by Mary Renault, Heather Gladney, JR Ward, JD Robb, Anne Rice, and Alexa Aston.