Strong Female Characters Archives - Page 8 of 26

“I know what I want. You.” Izzorah claims Luc #SciFi #MMRomance #GayBookstagram

Kayelle Allen 04/03/2024 Immortal Empires 6 Comments

In this scene, Luc and Izzorah have finished dinner, and retired to a living area nearby.

Luc had lived thousands of years. He was a master in the art of Sempervian Compulsion. He could seduce Izzorah and make him think it was all his idea. Izzorah already had a few drinks in him. He wouldn't even resist.

But what was the point of that? Luc wanted a relationship, not a romp. He wanted Izzorah to yield because he wanted to. No... he wanted Izzorah to be more than a partner. A true equal.

What Luc wanted, Luc got. In business, in war, in life, no one stood in the way. Not once Luc decided to pursue a thing.

But this was his precious Izzorah.

So now, Luc must wait, when what he wanted was to reach out... and take what so rightfully should belong to him.

Izzorah folded his hands before him, head down. Waiting, perhaps, for Luc to make the next move.

Luc took a step toward him, but placed himself beside Izzorah, facing the opposite direction. "You're a wonderful dinner companion."

"Thank you. I hope I didn't bore you with all that talk about home."

"Not at all. I find it...alien, but fascinating."

Izzorah said nothing.

Luc waited. A full minute passed with neither speaking.

Oh, screw this indecision! He should take the Kin to bed and be done with it. Luc knew he was going to. Why should he wait for the inevitable? No point in fighting the obvious. Izzorah wanted him. Luc wanted Izzorah. He should take him. Now.

But Luc's sensible side barred the way. He had promised. The Kin needed to know Luc respected him. Yes, Izzorah had committed himself, but it was still his move.

Luc must do the honorable thing. He shifted his weight, spreading his legs. It did nothing to ease the discomfort his arousal caused. Inner heat rivaled his craven desire for the wet friction of Kin fangs and rough tongue. Luc craved Izzorah's guileless eyes and smile, his artless desire to please. The innocence that personified him.

This young Kin could smell emotion. He had to know Luc burned. Why was he waiting? Or perhaps that was why. Had Luc frightened him with the intensity of his need? Perhaps Izzorah guessed what Luc wanted to do to him, take from him, and would run screaming in the other direction.

Instead, Izzorah took a step back and then set one foot between Luc's, looked up. "You told me when I was ready, to come to you." The emerald cat's eyes had gone wide. His smile faltered. "I'm ready. I know what I want. You."

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~ Copyright ©2025 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!

My characters may be found in multiple books in my story universe. Pietas images Nik Nitsvetov as Pietas cosplay.

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Call Pietas lord, but not “your majesty” #PietasFans #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 03/20/2024 Cosplay 6 Comments

Name and Reputation

The name Pietas comes from the word "pieta," meaning "representation." A famous statue by Michelangelo called "The Pieta" represents a dramatic event in Christendom. Another word for "pieta" is "creation." Pietas was considered (at his birth to two supposedly infertile immortals) to be the highest creation, the epitome of success. His mother, Helia hid her pregnancy from all but a close circle of others, fearful of what might happen if humans discovered she was fertile.

A female child delivered only minutes after Pietas was considered a delight, and a good omen. They named her Dessy from the root word decet (dess-say) meaning good or proper. We know her today as Empress Rheyn Destoiya, or the Conqueror. She detests being called Dessy, so Pietas sometimes calls her that to annoy her.

Other names for Pietas in human history are Marauder, Impaler, Hammer of God, Soul Ripper, Destroyer of Worlds, Slayer of Innocents, and Hound of Hell.

The name "Impaler" comes from him having thrown a javelin at a cowardly king who fled the battlefield, leaving his troops without a leader. After the man's followers cheered his death, a quick huddle of officers promised fealty to Pietas on condition he accept the army's full surrender without further violence.

Command

Upon taking command, Pietas oversaw provision of adequate food and shelter for the starving troops. He then privately interviewed random soldiers, asking which enlisted should be promoted, and which officers warranted demotion and why. Once he had a consensus, he followed through on their suggestions. He had his aide research any officer considered unfit and determine if their actions were from ignorance, or arrogance. All were assigned a mentor. Those who "shaped up" were retained. A small handful of ne're-do-wells were given a choice to mend their ways or prepare for death. This method of dealing with conquered populations won him loyalty, even among humans.

Yet there was a never-ending list of those who refused to surrender. For them, he showed no pity, earning himself a fearsome reputation. That notoriety resulted in mostly peaceful surrenders throughout the Colonies of Man.

Throne

Pietas decided long ago to not let anyone call him Your Majesty. In his words, "There's nothing majestic about me or what I do as leader. Everything I accomplish or plan comes from the people following me and for their benefit. It's all right to call me "lord" but not with a capital L. I prefer simply being called by my name, no matter who is speaking to me."

For royal court, he wears a simple silver circlet on his brow as a symbol of rank. He refused using a throne until a group of his soldiers carved one out of a tree and padded it with turquoise-colored leather. It bears no adornment or carving.

Dessy's Throne

Dessy possesses an ornate chair of state in the Tarthian Empire, where she is Empress. Carved from wood, it resembles a giant ruby dragon with sheltering wings, encrusted with rubies and garnets by the immortal artist Taral.

Unlike her brother, she prefers Your Majesty, but allows those close to her abbreviate it to "Majesty" when in her presence.

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~ Copyright ©2025 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!

My characters may be found in multiple books in my story universe. Pietas images Nik Nitsvetov as Pietas cosplay.

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#FanArt Creating the dragon Stormsinger #SciFi #Dragons #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 03/13/2024 Creative Team 6 Comments

My character Pietas had always been the villain, but I had it in my head to write his origin story. I knew he was well aquainted with storms, personal, psychic, physical, and spiritual. Turned out he wasn't so much a villain as an anti-hero. I learned a lot about negative character traits writing him.

When I wanted to create a dragon for his spirit animal, the dragon had something to do with storms as well.

Stormsinger is well named. He can summon storms by singing to the wind and sky. His color is a blue so pale it looks white at first. Tips of nose, paws and tail are turquoise. Stormsinger can create a literal blizzard and even freeze rivers. Before Pietas met Stormsinger he could create a physical chill in the air; since developing a bond with the animal, he can freeze people solid.

Pietas's sister, Dessy, has a dragon spirit animal as well. Hers is a red dragon called Fireshade and the dragon can create heat and fire. Dessy can generate heat as well, but not fire.

Pietas and his sister met the dragons on the planet Stachien in the Colonies of Man. They were there at the dragons' birth, and protected them during an attack and a storm, which resulted in their bond. That story is found in more detail in Ring of the Dragon.

Newsletter subscribers have access to coloring pages featuring the dragon.

For millennia, they fight side by side. Now one king faces a lonely quest.

As Light and Shadow, King Pietas and General Cyken share every battle, as well as a fierce and passionate love.

But, torn apart by the king's rage, Cyken ends their stormy relationship.

When General Cyken falls in love with another man, Pietas undertakes a perilous quest on the dangerous world of Felidae to prove he is the better choice for Cyken.

If he succeeds in his quest, it will either bring Cyken back, or drive him even closer to his new love.

Pietas must try, for he cannot walk into eternity alone.

He must have a shadow to balance his light...

Art by Jamin Allen

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~ Copyright ©2025 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!

My characters may be found in multiple books in my story universe. Pietas images Nik Nitsvetov as Pietas cosplay.

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Meet GermanCreative, an artist on the Creative Team who makes me look good online 🎨✨ #Artist #SciFiArt #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 03/06/2024 Creative Team 8 Comments

Connect with GermanCreative

GermanCreative (aka Les) is a graphic designer and illustrator focused in cover design, vector graphics and typography. She started creating her first covers as a young girl.

She graduated with a degree in communication, and now uses her passion for design as her job.

Like me, she is a member of ALLi, the Alliance of Independent Authors. She has won awards from TheBookDesigner and was chosen for Cover of the Month from AllAuthor.

Hire Les on Fiverr: https://www.fiverr.com/germancreative

In this scene, Shohn and Joe meet for dinner and to discuss how Shohn's company, idBot, can help Joe find the person he's looking for.

Excerpt

"What you tell idBot stays with idBot." Shohn tapped one manicured claw on the table. "Like lawyers and clergy. What you say to me I will share with no one."

"My father considered firestorms not as random incidents." Joe chewed his lower lip, his bright-blue gaze focused on Shohn. "Kin know when someone's lying, isn't that right?"

"Human scent gives them away. It's not impossible to lie to us without us knowing, but it is rare."

He leaned back, regarding her. "You'll know what I say is the truth, correct?"

What was he getting at? Did he plan to lie? Odd way to go about it, if so. "I would know whether you believed something was true."

"Okay." Joe squared his shoulders. "My father believed firestorms have a personal agenda."

She considered those words. "What you're saying is he thought the firestorms themselves were planning where to strike."

"Yes. I know it sounds crazy, but when you examine the evidence..." He sighed. "I don't mean to sound condescending, but you wouldn't understand. There are only a handful of people who would, and those few are all in the TCF. But they refused to take him seriously."

If Saint-Cyr could hear this, he would be cheering. Firestorms did indeed have their own agenda, but this was the first time anyone other than an immortal had recognized it.

Gaining Joe's trust might be the key to carrying out both her missions.

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~ Copyright ©2025 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!

My characters may be found in multiple books in my story universe. Pietas images Nik Nitsvetov as Pietas cosplay.

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Life plunged him into a lightless, inescapable world of sympathetic platitudes #SciFi #Romance #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 02/28/2024 Immortal Empires 6 Comments

This is the opening scene from Her Crystal Clear Truth. Joe has just come from his parents' funeral.

Excerpt

Tarthian Empire, Kyrenie; Fenris City, Taskya District

The barren house echoed the void inside. Empty places looked back, demanding a reaction. But Joe Townsend the third had nothing left to give.

From the moment he'd learned of his folks' accidental death, life had screamed past him like a banshee. The never-ending whirlwind of people needing around-the-clock decisions sucked his energy dry. He leaned against the inside of his parents' front door and slid down.

Today, he'd said his formal goodbyes at their memorial. He'd smiled like a wooden soldier at the unending I'm-so-sorrys and the non-stop oh-poor-Joe-how-are-you-doings.

How did they think he was doing?

Life had plunged him into a lightless, inescapable world of sympathetic platitudes.

How could he move forward when everywhere he looked, the past held him fast?

How could he move forward when every step led him further away from the people he'd loved most?

How could he move forward and lever past this pain?

There had to be a better way to handle heartbreak. A saner way.

Joe stood and dusted himself off. He would throw himself into his work. That's what his dad always--

A fresh ache swept over him.

"Whatever you can't change, accept and work through, Son. Focus on what you can do, what you have to do, and don't waste time looking back."

Joe braced an arm across his stomach. Would he ever think of his father's words of wisdom again without this foreboding sensation of loss? This sense that part of himself was missing? Or of his mother and her strength? Her abiding belief in him, encouraging him, guiding the way?

Dragging his feet, Joe staggered through the house, back to the room that had been his when he lived here as a boy, now stripped bare. His parents had put the house on the market and accepted an offer weeks prior to their deaths. They'd put everything in storage, preparing to move. The new owners would arrive tomorrow.

Nothing remained of the place Joe had once called his haven.

There was no home to go to. Starting tomorrow, this place would be someone else's. Not his parents'. Not his. Not anymore.

This sterile room symbolized everything he'd lost.

He couldn't think about this tonight. Couldn't think about work, even work he'd been preparing for his whole life.

Joe had longed for the opportunity to work at his father's side. The pride he'd felt when appointed had rivaled the thrill of collaborating with him. The joy of raw discovery, uncovering new truths while pushing the frontiers of knowledge to the nth degree.

Now, he was taking his father's place instead. Trying to fill shoes he would never be worthy to wear.

Right this moment, success was a meaningless distraction.

Exhausted, he curled up in the middle of the floor, surrounded by nothing but loss. He'd spend one last night in this empty shell of a place he'd once considered home.

Come morning, he'd walk away forever.

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~ Copyright ©2025 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!

My characters may be found in multiple books in my story universe. Pietas images Nik Nitsvetov as Pietas cosplay.

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Supersoldiers: no going back #PietasFans #SciFi #SpaceOpera #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 02/21/2024 Fallen Empires 6 Comments

Supersoldiers

The hyper-metabolism of Ultras made reproduction impossible, with one set of twins the sole exception. Enhanced by their warrior/scientist parents to protect them, the twins mastered the skills of science and war.

The physical superiority of Ultras led to a revolt against their human masters. By the Terran year 4436 AD, they ruled the galaxy. Mankind served. Humans repented ever creating Ultras, but there was no going back.

A million Ultras roamed the Terran Crescent and the Colonies of Man, and they ruled the starways, trade, and commerce. By the end of the First Cycle of Wars, the lowest of the subservient races was human.

After a century of brutal resistance, the last pockets of beleaguered human rebels were offered a treaty. Certain it was a trap, the humans sent spokespeople who were "expendable." But the reality turned out to be far different. Instead of more oppression, the High Council of the Ultras offered humans a seat beside them as members of the council.

The trap, however, was indeed there. What humans didn't suspect was that one group of Ultras had banded together to eliminate the other. The "peace talks" were merely a way to trick the Ultra Council into being in one place at the same time.

How did they manage the coup? The answer lies in Origin of Pietas.

Pietas had been the villain in many of my books and always fascinated me. I knew there was more to him than I could see, but like a shark swimming in the deepest waters, he was always moving, and always out of sight. As I began writing Origin of Pietas, he started coming into focus. The water grew less murky, and he swam closer to the surface. Instead of the cold eyes I expected to see staring back at me, I found a person with heat, passion, and an unstoppable hunger not just for revenge, but also truth.

Pietas is bigger than life. Larger than a legend. One of the most complex characters I've ever written. Pietas is the key to every story in my universe. All of them hinge on his influence or presence.

Where should you start reading? Back where it all began, with the free book Lights Out. This link takes you straight to the book. No signup required.

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~ Copyright ©2025 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!

My characters may be found in multiple books in my story universe. Pietas images Nik Nitsvetov as Pietas cosplay.

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💖👬 Love knows no bounds, and neither do our tips for dating a gay immortal 😏 #ImmortalLove #ScifiRomance #LoveBeyondLimits #LoveIsLove #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 02/14/2024 Immortal Empires 8 Comments

So you want to date a gay immortal. After you find one, what should you consider? Here are ten tips.

Go out because you like him as a person, rather than to find The One. Face it, how many times are you going to get a date with an immortal? Even if it doesn’t work out, this will be a date to remember. Enjoy it just for the experience.
Practice safe dating. Your immortal may enjoy death-defying endeavors on dates, but unlike him, you won’t live forever. Wear a seat belt, a helmet, and unless he’s immune to everything, sterile, and can prove it, use a condom.
If he’s bi, accept it. If he’s lived centuries, he might have tried almost anything. It’s true that he may not have found Mr. Right yet and you may be The One. It’s also possible he’s simply in touch with his polyamorous inner lover and enjoys a wide variety of relationships. Bottom line, don’t get your heart broken — pay attention to the signs.
If your gay immortal is a shapeshifter, were-creature, or undead, these attributes can add an entirely new level to your relationship. But be sure you’re ready for sex with a guy who’s really (and I do mean really) a beast.
Don’t offer your guy flowers, candy, or other trinkets on the first date. Immortals are used to giving gifts, but some are uncomfortable with getting them. However, after a few dates, if you bring him flowers, he’ll be surprised and likely touched that you took time to think of him. Flowers on a first date are expected — but flowers on the fourth are not. Surprise him.
Speaking of gifts, if you want something that will stun your gay immortal, why not give him the stars? Literally. Go to http://adoptastar.whitedwarf.org/ and you can adopt a star for him, get a certificate, and present it to him. If he’s from the future, he might even share memories of having visited there. Plus the money goes to help scientists with research.
Get your sleep. Immortals tend to “stay up all night” if you get my drift, and you’ll want to be well rested to take advantage of that.
Be on time. He might not be, depending on what era he’s from (future, past, and present sometimes run together for an immortal), and that’s something to deal with if necessary, but don’t keep him waiting. He’s spent enough time alone as it is.
Dress comfortably, but well. The first date is definitely the time to break out sexy underwear. Whether you want to show it to him on the first date is another matter. But wearing it will give you a feeling of looking and feeling your best.
Use the law of attraction to win his heart. This can be true with any guy, but for an immortal, it’s vital. What is this law? “You get back what you give out.” Project a positive, energetic vibe. If you try to please him and he responds in kind, you may have a winner. However, If you give and give, and he only takes and takes… that has nothing to do with his being a gay immortal. He’s just a jerk. Move on.

So, what are your tips for dating a gay immortal? If you do, share it in the comments.

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~ Copyright ©2025 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!

My characters may be found in multiple books in my story universe. Pietas images Nik Nitsvetov as Pietas cosplay.

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Who is behind the magic of making me look good online? Meet the Creative Team 🎨✨ Nik Nitsvetov @nitsvetov #PietasFans #Cosplay #SciFiArt #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 02/07/2024 Cosplay 10 Comments

Connect with Nik Nitsvetov (Pietas performer)

Nik Nitsvetov is photographer and award-winning cosplayer. A gamer and anime fan, he often cosplays characters from popular series. He lives in Russia and is a strong supporter of Russian Cosplay. His personal photography ranges from cosplay to portraits and often includes animals and nature. You will find him online through various social media.

Follow Nik

Creative Team https://kayelleallen.com/about-nik
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nitsvetov/
Instagram Photographer https://www.instagram.com/nitsvetov.photo/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nik.nicvetov

From Origin of Pietas

In this scene, Pietas, who is grievously ill and unable to fend for himself, has asked the human, Six, to go find the other immortals, but he's refused. How dare a lowly human defy him?

Excerpt

"How can you not do this, Six? What if my family and the council members are in the same shape I was in? Trapped, helpless, and injured?"

"No, no, and no." Six sat cross-legged by the fire, filet knife in hand, scraping scales off a fish. The fire sparked as the scales hit. "I'm not looking for your people. Look," he gestured at him with the knife, "you promised not to kill me. Not them. And to clarify, when it comes down to who ain't killing who, I promised not to kill you. Them? They're another story."

A hint of heat tingled against Pietas's face, and then a deeper warmth. Were his empathic senses returning, or was that the fire? "You are afraid." It sounded more accusatory than he'd intended.

Six glared at him. "Of course I am! You think I'm an idiot? I'm the only human on Sempervia. You know what a bunch of Ultras are gonna do if a human walks into camp? Nope." He spread his hands, the dead fish flopping as he did. "Not going. You get better, and I'll go with you, but I ain't going alone."

"I can't believe you."

"Sorry to disappoint." In one slice, he split the fish and then gutted it. He tossed the guts into the flames.

"You evince no sorrow whatsoever."

Six speared him with a dark look. "Evince? That some swear word in your language?"

"It's standard Etymis everyone speaks, ghost. It means to express. Empaths read the emotions that others evince."

"Fine. I don't evince any sorrow. Not one bit sorry about not taking on such a harebrained mission. Look what happened to the last one I accepted." He threaded the fish onto a long stick. "I might be dead, but I'm an animated dead, thank you. I intend to stay that way."

Pietas shut his eyes, jaws clenched. If he could heal faster by focusing anger, he'd have shot straight to good-as-new.

While Six worked on a second fish, Pietas considered what other tacks to try. The ghost was all about duty. "I'm accustomed to obedience from my men."

Six's mouth twisted into a wry grin. "Two things I'm starting to regret right now." He continued scraping the fish.

Pietas prompted him. "Such as?"

"One, that I didn't go AWOL when I heard about the mission to capture you."

Curiosity won over, and Pietas broke the silence. "And the second?"

Six looked him straight in the eyes. "That you got your voice back."

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~ Copyright ©2025 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!

My characters may be found in multiple books in my story universe. Pietas images Nik Nitsvetov as Pietas cosplay.

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He can save humanity. All it will cost is his life #SciFi #PietasFans #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 01/31/2024 Fallen Empires 4 Comments

Lights Out

He can save humanity. All he has to do is die. Again.

Join the Ghost Corps. You'll live forever, they said. You'll save humanity, they said. They didn't say that to do it, first you had to die.

When Tornahdo signs on the dotted line, he puts his life into the steady hands of the mighty Ghost Corps. Three grisly deaths and three agonizing resurrections later, he's assigned duty on the space station Enderium Six. He's facing his most dangerous mission yet, subduing and arresting the most lethal enemy of mankind—the immortal king.

Does the Corps expect success? Fat chance. Tornahdo and his team are already dead and this mission is codenamed "Lights Out." No, there's more to this than he can see.

To discover the truth, he must face an unbeatable, unkillable enemy, and this time—against all expectations for a ghost—find a way to keep himself alive...

In this scene, Tornahdo has been assigned to a mission and told he'll be briefed soon. He and eleven other members of Ghost Corps gear up and wait for orders.

Excerpt

The teamwork present in the regular army had no place here. Isolation was the point of being a ghost.

The unlit room where they waited closed in as if the walls pulled together and the ceiling sank. The longer they waited, the thicker the air. Warm, heavy with sweat and the tart bite of fear, every breath choked the senses.

More than one ghost pulled at his collar. Tension arced through the room, lightning skating over a metal fence.

Was the chip even working?

After half an hour of waiting, no one had spoken.

Probably another test.

Tornahdo, for one, wasn't failing it.

The door opened, bringing a shock of icy air.

They all knew they were being sent to die. They were ghosts. That's what ghosts did. They hammered at Ultras until they perma-killed them or they kept Ultras busy until others escaped. But at least they were getting to breathe first.

In walked a person close to seven Terran feet. Silhouette looked male. Tall enough to be an Ultra. He strode into the center of the room and beckoned everyone closer.

No clue who hid behind the full-body fake-face. It cycled through various images, too fast to keep up. Like trying to count air bubbles rising in a pool.

Remaining at the back, Tornahdo stood at ease.

"This is the best day in human recollection." Speaking through a voice changer, the voice took on genderless robotic tones. "Today, we make history."

If it was such a good day, why hide behind a fake-face and a voice changer?

The chip in Tornahdo's head pinged a stinging reminder to avoid such thoughts. He reined in his doubt and focused.

"This mission is called Lights Out. Your duty is simple. Chancellor Pietas is unconscious. You'll put him in a lifepod. That's it." The guy paused. "Questions?"

A tall ghost removed his helmet. "How can Ultras be unconscious?"

"The peace talks were a trap. When he and the Council arrived, we told them we'd jettison their module unless they entered their lifepods, which they did. Except Pietas, of course, so we siphoned the air out of the room. Before you go in, you'll hyperventilate, store up oxygen. This room is being pumped full at a high rate. Your chip will aid you."

Ultras held their breath ten times longer than humans. Tornahdo had trained to hold his five times longer. Pietas probably managed fifteen or twenty times.

Twelve of them. In a vacuum. Against the Ultra called Bringer of Chaos. Whose motto was, "Pain is a warrior's ally." No number of chips made that doable.

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~ Copyright ©2025 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!

My characters may be found in multiple books in my story universe. Pietas images Nik Nitsvetov as Pietas cosplay.

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A howl of empathic rage rips the air #SciFi #PietasFans

Kayelle Allen 01/26/2024 Fallen Empires

In this scene from Bringer of Chaos, Pietas discovers a critical truth. He is plunged into an empathic rage that unleashes his emotions on the world. Everything changes. The scene below picks up after the reveal so as not to include spoilers. Pietas ventures into the night alone on Sempervia.

Excerpt

Lost in thought, Pietas walked for hours, finally becoming aware of his surroundings in the center of a clearing. Sempervian moonlight bathed the night in silver. He'd learned the secret behind Ghost Corps' rejuvenation process.

How ironic. He'd begun to have second thoughts about humanity. Since getting to know Six, he'd considered the wholesale slaughter of humans might be wrong. That his father might have a point, and humans might be worth saving.

He'd considered resigning himself to life on Sempervia. Leaving humanity to its own devices.

How pathetic.

He would go back if it cost him every vestige of strength, and make humanity pay for what they'd done.

He would kill every last one.

Every ghost.

Every human.

All of them. Every. Single. One.

Fury activated pheromones he'd long suppressed.

He loosed them.

The moon darkened behind a cloud of insects.

A torrent of nesting birds roused and with terrified wings, beat the sky.

Pietas threw back his head, flung out his arms, and poured forth a silent howl of empathic rage.

Download a printable book list or a list of trigger warnings for all books. Claim your immortality by signing up for my newsletter

Immortal Reviews Rock & Rule - Join the Review Team

~ Copyright ©2025 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!

My characters may be found in multiple books in my story universe. Pietas images Nik Nitsvetov as Pietas cosplay.

Read more →

Tag: Strong Female Characters

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