Focus: Return by Toni V. Sweeney

Wild Women Authors Focus on: Return (Book 4 of the kan Ingan Archives, Part 2 of the Arcanian Chronicles) by Toni V Sweeney

. . . . .In an attempt to clear himself of the charges causing his exile, Aric kan Ingan returns to Arcanis and immediate arrest. Saved from execution by his cousin Pallas, he finds himself owing her a debt for which she expects more than his gratitude.

. . . . .Marrying Pallas means giving up Susan but it also will regain Aric what he desires—the Throne of Arcanis, and revenge against TAS. More is at stake than just Aric's vengeance, however, for former best friend Eby is not only TAS' right-hand man but a rival for Pallas' affections.

. . . . .Will Aric give up his happiness to protect his sovereign…or will he return to Susan, again become an exile, and leave his cousin a victim of rebel vengeance?

. . . . .Whichever choice he makes, it will affect the entire planet as well as the lives of Arcanians as yet unborn.

EXCERPT:

“He’s safely locked in the Tower but he invoked the margrave’s name.” Eby stood looking down at Kozlu Lowen. “How are you going to handle that?”

“Calling on the margrave complicates things a little,” the elder agreed. “It’s a precedence, since His Majesty’s dead. We’ll have to make a show of convening the Council and discussing it, but the result’ll be the same. The sentence’ll stand and he’ll be executed.”

“Does Her Majesty know?” Eby tried to keep the concern out of his voice. He knew it was going to upset Pallas when she learned her beloved cousin, whom she’d built into a hero, had been killed.

“Not yet.” Kozlu looked up at the Lord Comaundur with a frown. “There’s no reason for her to know. She’ll simply cause more trouble if she finds out. Afterward, when it’s too late, she’ll be told.”

“Isn’t that a little cruel?” Eby protested. “After all, he’s her kinsman, her only close relative.”

“The girl’s enough trouble as it is, Eby. She’s getting worse as she gets older. I’m beginning to wonder if we made the right choice when we agreed to let her live. It’s not too late to rescind that order.”

“You promised she wouldn’t be hurt.”

If there was one thing that could frighten Eby, it was a threat to Pallas.

This old bastard knows it, damn it.

He hated it as he heard that slight tremble in his voice, knowing Kozlu heard it, too. It might make the elder wonder if he’d weaken in his allegiance to the Council because of his love for the girl.

“Yes, we did. That was when she was still grief-stricken and confused after her father’s...unfortunate...death.” His words were ironic as he fixed the Lord Comaundur with a hard gaze. “We thought marrying her to someone of Old Arcanian blood, someone she trusts. To you, my dear Comaundur. That it would subdue her enough for us to take over completely, but…” He let the sentence die, the words deciding Pallas’ fate unspoken.

“Then let me marry her straightaway.” Eby tried not to sound as if he were begging. In spite of that, a bare twinge of desperation entered his voice. “As soon as she’s told he’s dead. While she’s still in shock. She’ll turn to me as she did when her mother and father died, and I’ll—”

“You truly love the girl, don’t you?” Kozlu looked at him as if he were just discovering the fact and was astonished by it, and also pitied his Chief of Security.

“I’m fond of her, my lord.” Eby met the elder’s gaze straight on.

Fond? A mild way of saying my body screams for her to be in my bed. Damn it, lust would be a better description.

“However, I care more for my planet.” He had to add that, hoping to hide his true concern. “Let me marry her now, counselor. She’s still easily led. I’ll supplant her will with mine, and...” His next words barely missed becoming wheedling in their desperation. “I’ll get her pregnant as soon as possible. She’ll be so busy caring for her brat she won’t have time to worry the Council.”

There was a brief silence as Kozlu mulled over his words.

“If you sired a child on our beloved margravine,” the old man said, musingly. “It’ll have more Arcanian than Terran blood in its veins, Old Arcanian blood, too, and that would be a good thing. However, close association with its mother might make it also a threat.” He shook his head. “It always comes back to the same point, Eby. Pallas has too much Terran in her and that’s the problem.”

Eby didn’t answer. He had no argument for that fact and he knew it.

Kozlu studied the desktop, drumming fingers against it in a rapid tattoo, then looked up.

“All right. The moment Aric kan Ingan’s body is hung over Aljansur’s seawall, the Lady Pallas’ marriage to you will be announced.”

BUY LINKS:

Paperback exclusively from the publisher’s website: http://www.classactbooks.com/component/virtuemart/science-fiction/return-9002018-05-14-03-46-04-detail?Itemid=0

Amazon: http://www.classactbooks.com/component/virtuemart/science-fiction/return-9002018-05-14-03-46-04-detail?Itemid=0

About Our Focus Author:

     Toni V. Sweeney has lived 30 years in the South, a score in the Middle West, and a decade on the Pacific Coast and now she’s trying for her second 30 on the Great Plains.

Since the publication of her first novel in 1989,       Toni divides her time between writing SF/Fantasy under her own name and romances under her pseudonym Icy Snow Blackstone. In March, 2013, she became publicity manager for Class Act Books (US). She is also on the review staff of the New York Journal of Books. In 2016, she was named a Professional Reader by netgalley.com.

     In 2015 and 2016 Toni was voted one of the Top 10 authors of those years by Preditors & Editors Readers Poll. In 2013, the Paranormal Romance Guild’s Reviewer’s Choice voted The kan Ingan Archives (Part Two of the Arcanian Chronicles) a Special Mention, and the following year, named the individual novels The Man from Cymene, and Space Studs, from the same series two of the Top 8 SF/fantasy novels of 2014.

     As of 2018, Toni currently has 55 novels in print, including 3 series, and 3 trilogies.

To learn more about Toni, go to:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tvsweeney

Amazon Author’s Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BLQBB8

Twitter: @ToniVSweeney