Wulf Gabriel, character in books by Kayelle Allen.
Pick up Wulf for $0.00 -- This book is permafree on all retailers.
Series: https://kayelleallen.com/chosen/
Warning: Not for readers of "clean and sweet" romance.
#MMRomance #MMReads #SciFi
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In the secret society of the Chosen, a group of mortals who serve the immortal Sempervians, being gay or straight is no different from being brown-eyed or blue-eyed. No one notices or cares. But disloyalty among the Chosen is punishable by death, and in this trilogy, everyone’s loyalty is questioned.
Covert alignments, mistrust, mistakes, and regrets pepper the playing field. Both the Chosen and the Sempervians harbor enemies and spies within their ranks — some known and tolerated, others concealed behind layers so convoluted eternity isn’t long enough to figure them out. When you factor in multiple allegiances and aliases, knowing who to trust takes on a whole new level of danger — especially if you live forever.
When the fate of hearts rivals the fate of worlds, victory costs everything.
Includes Bonus Book: An Immortal’s Guide to Tarth; A Handbook for Immortals Relocating to the Tarthian Empire
A bit of fiction, written in a non-fiction way, An Immortal’s Guide to Tarth offers guidance from Joss Avaton, one of the immortals. She provides dire warnings about which immortal not to cross, and what to do about pesky Mundanes (namely, those annoying humans), and who among the Chosen is not to be trusted.
This excerpt is taken from the opening of the book.
Welcome to the Tarthian Empire. This book is a guide to the people, places, and possibilities you’ll find here. A list of immortals and their roles in Peril is also included. All Sempervians are welcome here. This will be your home away from home. To those immortals who have joined us in our glorious exile — please know you are our honored guests. We are pleased to share the bounty of the Empire with you.
I’m Joss Avaton, your guide. A little about me. I’m telepathic (which most of us experience and understand), and a scripter, which means by touching you I can discern your abilities and gifts. Contrary to popular belief, scripters cannot tell your past or your future. We can only tell about your present: what gifts you possess now.
An Immortal’s Guide to Tarth
So that neither of us has any illusions, I will tell you up front that I am serving Penance. For those of you new to the game of Peril, that means I lost a game and must pay for it. In my case, it was a technicality, and the gamers in my session had nothing to do with my loss. I lost by my own mistakes, and take full responsibility. The gamer opposite me (Nanchonta) I would trust with my life, and have, many times. However, I would carefully watch the lead player in my support team (Akaghe) and never turn my back on him. Not for one moment. He is not based in the Tarthian Empire, for which I’m thankful. But enough about the past. I’m here to help you in your future with us.
While we are more than glad to welcome a fellow immortal into the Empire, you should be aware that the relationship between Mundanes (mortals) and ourselves is not an open one. To that end, let’s dive straight into the ironclad rules.
By order of Pietas ap Lorectic, Lord of the Immortals, the Impaler, Hammer of God, Marauder, Soul Ripper, Destroyer of Worlds, Slayer of Innocents, Hound of Hell, you are ordered to set aside this book if you not immortal. Put down this book, walk away, and no one will get hurt. Should you decide to disobey this directive, that assurance is void.
With that warning in mind, you may proceed at your own risk.
Of course, immortals do exist. The fact that you are reading this book proves that. We are referring to what the non-immortal Mundane population thinks. They (other than the Chosen) are never to know of our existence. The rule regarding how much to reveal is simple: nothing.
We do not discuss immortality.
We avoid any mention of immortality.
If asked directly if we are immortal, we lie.
There are no exceptions to this rule.
The answer to “Why can’t we tell them?” is also simple: BPSS (Because Pietas said so). If you don’t know who Pietas is, we refer you to Rule Number One.
You will no doubt find yourself exasperated by the sheer number of Mundanes present in the Tarthian Empire, especially humans. They have overrun it and multiplied like rats in a pestilence. Which brings us to Rule Number Three.
By order of Pietas, humans and other people groups may not be killed for sport. That does not mean you can’t annoy, manipulate, and use them for your own purposes. However, the rule about killing is strictly enforced. You can be banned from the Empire for killing even one Mundane. Justifiable homicide must be proven in Mundane courts as well as before the throne of Pietas.
It has nothing to do with their inherent worthiness. Mundanes have none. However, we must coexist here and the worlds in the Tarthian Empire are filled with these creatures. They farm, raise fish, cattle, sheep, and other animals used for food, create cities, technology, transport, and other items which we find useful and helpful. Since we take full advantage of these things, it behooves us to let them exist. Therefore, the golden rule is “Live and let live.”
We cannot stress strongly enough the need to remember the golden rule when it comes to Mundanes, and especially humans. They tend to bring out the worst in us, so guard yourself against rash behavior in their presence. Pietas does not permit a “temporary insanity” defense. I know this chafes. You must learn to deal with it.
—
Well, fellow mortals. Will you choose to obey the directive and avoid the book? Or will you crack that baby open and grab all the secrets you can find? Choose…
—
Both books are available as preorders until Sep 17th. The cost for each is just 99 cents. They will go up after Oct 1st, so grab them now. If you buy the boxed set, you get An Immortal’s Guide to Tarth free. If you already have the Chosen series, just grab the single book.
Want to know how I write before you decide to buy? Download Bro, the Story Behind the Antonello Brothers free. You’ll get another free book the next day. That will give you a good look.
Join our Facebook party on Friday, Sep 18th from 12 noon to 9pm ET.
Party link: http://bit.ly/choose-me-party
Here’s the lineup:
| Start | End | Author |
| 12:00 PM | 12:30 PM | Kayelle Allen (kicking off the party) |
| 12:30 PM | 1:00 PM | Travis Luedke |
| 1:00 PM | 1:30 PM | Leigh Ellwood |
| 1:30 PM | 2:00 PM | J Scott Coatsworth |
| 2:00 PM | 2:30 PM | Charlie Cochrane |
| 2:30 PM | 3:00 PM | Tempeste O’Riley |
| 3:00 PM | 3:30 PM | Angelia Sparrow |
| 3:30 PM | 4:00 PM | Kaitlyn Stone |
| 4:00 PM | 4:30 PM | Brent D Seth |
| 4:30 PM | 5:00 PM | Aidee Ladnier |
| 5:00 PM | 5:30 PM | Brina Brady |
| 5:30 PM | 6:00 PM | Amanda Young |
| 6:00 PM | 6:30 PM | Sloane Kennedy |
| 6:30 PM | 7:00 PM | Sarah Madison |
| 7:00 PM | 7:30 PM | A Catherine Noon |
| 7:30 PM | 8:00 PM | Trevann Rogers |
| 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | Houston Havens |
| 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | Kayelle Allen (closing up) |
Every author on the list has a giveaway! Come find out about new books, win prizes, and meet authors. The authors in this group write Male Male Romance, or Menage Romance. Which will you choose?
Imagine immortal warriors who spend eternity alone, watching mortal friends age and die, century after century, thousands of years on end, battling untold wars. Recalling lovers brings such pain, it’s better to forget. Why would anyone want to go on?
Humans created genetically-designed creatures to make life easier. Humans themselves disdained such enhancements, and within a few generations, the title Human Pure identified those who had never commingled blood or accepted genetic changes. Genslaves did the work; humans reaped the benefits. Depending on the job required, each genslave could be telepathic, empathic, shape-shifting, half animal, or a pleasure giver, and some were illusion casters. However, genslaves were also the finest scientists, healers, artists, and teachers.
Nothing normal described the warriors. All had various enhanced skills. Too powerful to kill, they regenerated no matter how catastrophic the wound. Immortal warriors do not take orders.. They take control.
It took many centuries before a traitor within their ranks helped trap the invincible army. Imprisoned on a world dubbed Sempervia, far out on the galaxy’s rim, these immortal warriors had no way home. With little more than a handful of farming tools and a few crates of seeds, the exiles faced a battle unlike any that had come before. In a twist of irony, the ragged and starving immortals died, only to rise again and face one more bleak day of survival.
Thousands of years later, those same half-million now live as one with the world they’ve transformed into a paradise. There are no children. All are barren. Calling themselves Reborn, they take pains to hide their world from outsiders, and are peace-loving, docile, and content.
Except for one hundred renegades and their leader, Pietas. They refuse to forgive their expulsion from their birthright — their loss of freedom to roam the galaxy. One hundred and one live for revenge. Rejecting the pacifist name Reborn, the exiles called themselves Sempervians. The name means ever living.
Pietas held his people together by preaching a doctrine that only death made life meaningful. Peril is a real-time role-playing game lived out in forty-year increments. As the Gamemaster, Pietas oversees details of his followers’ lives. Players strive during each lifetime to achieve goals against friends who are adversaries or allies, depending on the toss of the dice. They crave wining at all costs. Peril pits empires and worlds against powers far beyond any mortal’s ability to know, understand, or even glimpse.
To fail means a solid year of Penance at the hands of the Gamemaster, Pietas. Repeated, daily deaths. Dying and coming back at their peak age. The Gamemaster plays no favorites, grants no mercy, even to the one he loves — the one follower who has challenged Pietas throughout the centuries but cannot bring himself to love Pietas back the way he himself is loved, yet defers to the Gamemaster’s power. Cyken Tomarus, known in this lifetime as Luc Saint-Cyr.
No one leaves Peril. If the others don’t hunt you down, or the android referees can’t find you, the galaxy is full of bounty hunters eager for a scalp, and no price is too high to pay for a traitor. No mercy awaits immortal warriors dragged back for Pietas’s wrath.
Assisting in the game are the Chosen, generations of mortals who know the secrets of the Sempervians and vow to make their transitions from life to life possible, a rare few ending up as lovers of their immortal masters. Two such Chosen were Wulf, once belonging to Luc Saint-Cyr, and Alitus, once belonging to Empress Rheyn Destoiya. These Chosens’ unforgivable sin was to fall in love with each other, thereby pitting the two strongest players — former allies — against one another.
Pietas declared the two Chosen untouchable, safe within his keeping, and he watches from afar. The story plays out among the worlds of the Tarthian Empire. He reveals that a few decades earlier, he created a group of “Changelings.” Death or an infusion of immortal blood awakens dormant cells to begin their transformation into an immortal. The Chosen Alitus is one. Others wait, reared by mortals as mortals, without knowledge of their rightful heritage.
Who are the next Changelings? Will they be immortal warriors? Or perhaps they will bring Peril to a riotous end. Subscribe to the Romance Lives Forever Reader Group and find out as each new book reveals more of the truth.
Spymaster Alitus Vivaldi paused beside his new assistant's desk and tapped a finger on it.
The man jumped to his feet. "Yes, sir?"
"I didn't mean to startle you, Jarod." The man had been with Alitus less than a week, but he'd already proven himself invaluable. "I'll be working on a Class Four project the rest of the day. Keep interruptions to a minimum."
"Yes, sir. I'll ensure you're not disturbed, Minister Vivaldi."
Inside his private office, Alitus set the standard safeguards, and added a few layers of additional protection. The glowing logo for the Conqueror's Division of Imperial Intelligence faded as Alitus pulled up a bank of images from the idBot interface. He flicked his fingers to cast images onto the walls around the room.
"Begin capture. Target: Wulf Gabriel. Parameters: record my questions as well as any and all information available in database for target." Pointing toward the top right of one wall, Alitus moved his finger diagonally to the bottom left to bring up another bank of pictures. "Play series." His current quarry was walking toward the Renyoj Building in the Di Consueto District. "Stop playback."
Alitus tapped a finger on one picture to create a still, and zoomed in for a better view. Mid-stride, Wulf had reached the entrance. He wore a charcoal gray suit, dark hair tousled from the breeze. A former supermodel, Wulf's chiseled features and strong jaw set him apart in any crowd.
How could anyone fail to recognize him? Wulf was beautiful. All he had to do is walk into the room and everything stopped.
The lover of wealthy tycoon Luc Saint-Cyr, few things Wulf did were off the public record. The man still had fans from his modeling career five years ago, but these days, fans followed him because he managed famous rock bands for Lucsondis Entertainment, Saint-Cyr's business.
That wasn't what had warranted the attention of the spymaster. Wulf was no traitor to the crown, and he'd committed no crimes.
Wulf was suspected of having an affair.
Luc Saint-Cyr wanted to be sure, and since he was a friend of the Conqueror, she had tasked Alitus with finding out who was to blame. Saint-Cyr might have no qualms about engaging in an affair himself, and was well-known for his licentious behavior, but his partner had no such freedom. Saint-Cyr and the Conqueror were allies in every sense of the word. Were even lovers when it suited them.
Alitus would refuse no request she made. Nor could he refuse Saint-Cyr. One drew the Harbinger's ire at one's peril.
The man owned a large percentage of legitimate businesses on Tarth, Kelthia, and a smattering on other planets. He had once headed the Kelthian Thieves' Guild. No one had yet proven he led the largest crime syndicate in the empire, but the assumption was there, despite official denials. There was no public discussion of Saint-Cyr anywhere except entertainment news, where it seemed to be encouraged. On Kelthia, they said his name only if they couldn't avoid it. Otherwise he was the Harbinger, or the Man, or simply Him.
One could hear the capital letters.
Proving Wulf was having an affair would be dangerous. It could cost Wulf everything, up to and including his life.
Especially if they discovered the affair was with Alitus.
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