“Why I like you is beyond me” #Excerpt #SciFi #MMRomance #MFRWhooks

Updated on 06/22/2021 by Kayelle Allen

Imperial Palace, the Stable
Keeper Wing

As the door opened, Alitus turned to face it, lowering both hands to his sides. If he released his pheromones now, it would lower Rudy's resistance. The pheromones gave Alitus a distinct advantage. Using them to coerce, however, was not in his nature.

The man stood in the doorway, blocking the groom's entrance behind him, and made a small gesture. "I got this, Byrin." The door shut behind him.

Alitus steeled himself for confrontation, hyper-aware of Rudy's stillness, like the motionless menace of an animal poised to strike.

Rudy took three steps into the room and halted. He wore gym shoes, socks, loose shorts, and a white towel around his neck. A white headband held dark hair out of his eyes. A fine sheen of sweat covered him. Rudy was built like Alitus, but more athletic, his muscles more defined. Alitus was blond; Rudy brunet. Both blue-eyed, Alitus's were ocean dark, Rudy's, sky pale. Alitus had been bred for intellect, and Rudy for natural earthiness and sensuality.

"How you doin', Alitus?" The man lifted a corner of the towel and wiped his face, dabbing at his nose, which had a bluish tinge on its left side. The color had seeped into the area below his left eye as well.

"This will never work." Alitus shook his head. "We're far too different."

"Yeah, well, nice to see you, too, you smartass." Rudy jerked open the door.

Outside, Byrin stood like a guard dog off its leash, waiting for a finger snap from its master.

"Wait." Alitus held up one hand. "I'm sorry."

No answer at first. Rudy studied him. "For what? That I'm leavin' 'cause I don't have time for your bullshit? Or that you didn't break my nose?"

"Neither." Alitus gestured for him to shut the door, which Rudy did. "I'm sorry we got off to such a bad start. I should have begun this conversation by saying I was sorry."

"Oh, yeah?" Rudy folded his arms. "That supposed to make it all 'better,' Better?" Before Alitus could answer, Rudy put in, "Let's get something straight right up front. I'm doing this for Her Majesty, not you. I don't need your apology or want it, so if that's all you came for, you can go. I'll fill in for you because she asked me to. I don't need another reason."

"Fine, then."

"Fine." Rudy jutted his chin upward.

Neither spoke. Neither looked away.

Alitus let out a long sigh. "Damn it, Rudy, I was a smartass."

A grin stole across the man's face. "You've got a mean right hook, you bastard."

"If it makes you feel any better, my hand still hurts."

The two men met in the middle of the room and shook hands, Alitus still gloved. When Rudy squeezed, Alitus winced

The other man didn't let go. "What the hell were you thinkin', man?"

Alitus withdrew and rubbed his hand. "She makes me crazy. I didn't think."

Rudy cuffed him on the shoulder. "If I used an excuse like that I'd get thrown out of here."

"Haven't got one better."

"Punny." Rudy wrapped his hands around the ends of his towel. "You do realize what a problem this veil thing is going to be for droid security, don't you? I've been reading up on them. The stuff that keeps the pheromones inside makes it so droids can't read through them to know who's who. An assassin could walk right up to Her Majesty and no one would be the wiser until it was too late."

"I know. That's why they're limiting Better access to her. We won't be able to get an audience until we've been screened. Another way to screw us."

"On a different note, how am I going to get from the Stable to your office without being seen in that Veil thing?"

He lifted one shoulder. "Use the passageway from the Stable to my old office and then go from there. It's the one right outside hers."

Rudy gave him a puzzled look.

"You know." Alitus gestured. "The passage you use when she calls for a Jade during the work day." When no response came, Alitus sighed. "You mean she's never summoned you for a quickie?"

"You bastard." Rudy twisted his mouth in a sardonic grimace. "I'll bet she called you. Which is another reason for me to dislike you."

Alitus rocked on the balls of his feet.

"You smug son-of-a-bitch. Why I like you is beyond me."

Posted in Character Insights | Tagged Alitus Vivaldi, Blog Hop, Dessy, Gay Romance, MFRW, Sempervians, Tales of the Chosen, Wulf Gabriel |

That feeling when you have to apologize for being right #Excerpt #SciFi #MMRomance #MFRWhooks

Updated on 06/16/2021 by Kayelle Allen

In this scene from Alitus, Tales of the Chosen, the spymaster Alitus visits the Stable, a harem of male pleasure slaves called Jades kept by the Empress, whom he serves.

The night before, a physical altercation with Rudy, one of the Jades, resulted after the Empress suggested Rudy could fill in for Alitus.

Betters -- enhanced humans like Alitus -- are now required to wear a veiled garment, so having the "normal" Rudy replace him set off the temper of the usually placid Alitus.

This moment takes place the next day.

Imperial Palace, the Stable
Keeper Wing

Alitus presented himself at the Stable groom's office.

Byrin Arual oversaw the literal army of identical androids involved in caring for the Jades. The middle-aged human was handsome enough to be a Jade himself, yet Byrin's relationship with the Empress always seemed professional. She'd never shown the least interest in him.

Byrin welcomed him and gestured to a chair in the small office. "Sit. Great to see you again, Alitus. Is this imperial business?"

"Personal." He started to strip off his gloves, decided against it, and smoothed them back over his fingers. "I came to see Rudolf Brakovsky."

Byrin perched against the edge of the compact desk. Monitors filled the opposite wall, revealing the Jades in various activities. "If this is about the bloody nose from the other night it's my duty to remind you that any provocation between Jades is prohibited. I know you're no longer a Jade." He held up a hand to prevent interruption. "But Rudy is. I don't want to put him in a compromising situation."

"I won't touch him." Alitus crossed his legs. "I owe him an apology."

Byrin studied him a moment, his expression grave. "If you didn't represent Her Majesty the way you do, I wouldn't permit this. Rudy's a good guy."

He resisted the urge to hang his head and instead, met the man's unflinching gaze. "Yes, he is. Which is why this is important."

"I never expected violence from you, Alitus. When you lived in the Stable, you were the one everyone looked up to, even though you were the youngest. From the first day you entered the Stable, they called you 'Mr. Perfect.' When you were out of earshot, of course, but the guys like you despite the fact you were special to Her Majesty."

"I..." Alitus tugged his gloves on a little tighter. Liking him was an after-effect of his pheromones, but Byrin didn't need to know that.

Would Alitus ever have a true friend? One who liked him without being influenced?

Byrin stared as if waiting for a reply.

Alitus cleared his throat. "Thank you. I don't know what to say."

"Hell, man." Byrin threw out his arms. "She created the 'Lover' level so she could put you above the Keepers. No one else has ever been in it. You know how crazy that makes these guys? Yet not one of them would say a single bad thing about you. And that isn't because of the rules here. You know that?"

Alitus lowered his lashes.

"What the hell got into you?"

"I'd rather not discuss it, Byrin." Alitus smoothed the crease in a pant leg. "Consider it a momentary lapse of reason and let it go, please. Her Majesty has. I'm here to ask Rudy for forgiveness. Isn't that enough?"

Byrin glared as if about to argue, but then brushed off his pants, and stood. "All right. Suit yourself. Take it easy while I go find him. At this hour, he's working out." Byrin searched the bank of monitors for a moment before he excused himself and left.

Alitus thrust himself to his feet and paced. He could do this. Get it over with and get back to work. For two days, he'd done nothing but argue with himself about coming here. Time to put it in the past and move on. How could he have doubted Her Majesty's intentions?

She had not chided him. Although she had not told him to apologize, she had to expect it. "Jealousy does not become you, Alitus. You know you have my respect. You know that. I would never dishonor you."

Clasping his hands before his mouth, he tapped them against his lips. He must control himself. He was going to need Rudy's help.

Posted in Character Insights | Tagged Alitus Vivaldi, Blog Hop, Dessy, Gay Romance, MFRW, Sempervians, Tales of the Chosen, Wulf Gabriel |

The truth risked not only his quarry’s life, but his own as well #Excerpt Alitus #MMRomance #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Updated on 06/12/2021 by Kayelle Allen

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.

Posted in New Book | Tagged Alitus Vivaldi, Dessy, Gay Romance, Immortal Heroes, MM Romance, Rheyn Destoiya, Sci-Fi Romance, Sempervians, Tales of the Chosen, Wulf Gabriel |

How long can he deny his heart? #Excerpt Alitus by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Updated on 05/15/2021 by Kayelle Allen

In this scene from Alitus, it's late at night, and Wulf Gabriel is on his way to a secret rendezvous.

Wulf let himself into the apartment and double-locked the door. He didn't need to turn on the lights. Although his tenant had brought in her own furniture, the layout remained the same, and he could find his way around blindfolded. He pulled off his shoes and set them aside to protect the new white carpet. He'd had it installed last week, which was the least he could do, considering he'd been the one who'd ruined it. Who knew body paint could do so much damage?

It was kind of her to still let him use it when she was out of town. Where else could they go?

Emptying his pockets onto an antique table in the foyer, Wulf shrugged out of his jacket, hung it on a chair, and headed for the bedroom. When he opened the door, the heady scent of peaches wafted to him. Candles lit the sumptuous bedroom, illuminating the warm, inviting colors. It was a woman's room, soft, appealing, yet strong.

At the foot of the bed stood a serving cart draped with linen. A silver bucket of ice held an open bottle of his favorite black vodka, and to one side, a single martini glass with a white chocolate truffle inside. Picking up the bottle and glass, Wulf followed a trail of petals from the ornate iron bed to the open bathroom door.

There, in a tub of bubbles, lounged his blond and beautiful lover. With a faint blush, Alitus rested his head against the tub. The bathwater's steam rose around him.

The sight made Wulf's breath catch. Damp and curling, tendrils of Alitus's pale hair clung to his jaw and throat. His face looked innocent, but the ocean-blue gaze was far from it.

Wulf bit into his lower lip and fought the carnality threatening to overwhelm him. He almost broke the fragile glass stem. "It was so hard tonight, seeing you at the palace and having to pretend you weren't the most important person in the room."

"Same here." Alitus gave him a lazy smile, and trailed a wet fingertip along the edge of the tub. "When you defended me, and then looked my way, I feared every person in the room would know we were lovers."

Alitus, Tales of the Chosen releases July 23, 2021.

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