Fated Blades
- Автор: Эндрюс Илона
- Серия: Kinsmen #3
- Год: 2021
- Язык: английский
- Год: Montlake
- ISBN: 9781662500435
- Жанр: Любовно-фантастические романы
Электронная книга - «Fated Blades». Краткое содержание книги:
At first glance, the planet Rada seems like a lush paradise. But the ruling families, all boasting genetically enhanced abilities, are in constant competition for power―and none more so than the Adlers and the Baenas. For generations, the powerful families have pushed and pulled each other in a dance for dominance.
Until a catastrophic betrayal from within changes everything.
Now, deadly, disciplined, and solitary leaders Ramona Adler and Matias Baena must put aside their enmity and work together in secret to prevent sinister forces from exploiting universe-altering technology. Expecting to suffer through their uneasy alliance, Ramona and Matias instead discover that they understand each other as no one in their families can―and that their combined skills may eclipse the risks of their forbidden alliance.
As the two warriors risk their lives to save their families, they must decide whether to resist or embrace the passion simmering between them. For now, the dance between their families continues―but just one misstep could spell the end of them both. (less)
Matias got to his feet, walked around the table, and offered his hand to Ramona. She put her hand in his and smiled at the two families. The connection between them sparked, as strong as he remembered it. It felt like coming home after a long, terrible trip, and he grinned at her like an idiot.
“The marriage contracts are in your in-boxes,” Ramona said. “We signed them and filed them this morning. Have fun coming to terms with it. We have a lunch date.”
They headed for the exit.
“He’s a renegade!” Santiago snarled.
“Your children will have the Baena name!” Karion screamed.
“Matias Baena!” Nadira’s voice cut across the shouts. “Come back here! When is the wedding? You cannot elope! You will shame the—”
The door slid shut, cutting her off midword.
“Once they realize that they are no longer competing for the seco generators, there will be a lot less screaming,” Matias said.
“We will have to give them the wedding.” Ramona sighed.
“A small price to pay. We will suffer through it, and then we will escape on a long honeymoon.”
She looked at him. “To the Provinces?”
“Yes. The agreement with the Davenports has been finalized, and the plan for the merger of the two research teams is in place. We still have three weeks of summer left. I’ve inherited an amazing summerhouse. It’s by the lake, and there is a cherry orchard.”
She laughed. “Where to now?”
“To lunch. I found this little place on the Bronze Terrace. They make the best passion cones.”
Matias Baena put his arm around the woman he loved. The connection between them zinged, muted for now, but unbreakably strong. They walked to the elevator holding hands.
For the first time in his adult life, he knew that both he and his wife were perfectly happy.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to thank the wonderful team at Montlake for taking our story and making it into a book. We’re grateful to Alison Dasho for her editorial guidance and patience; to Cheryl Weisman for the production management, fine tuning, and diligence in making sure everything was done on time; to Susan Stokes for her thorough copyedit; to Sylvia McCluskey for her proofreading; to Kris Beecroft for her art direction; to Lindy Martin at Faceout Studio for her cover design; and to Luisa J. Preißler for the gorgeous cover illustration.
As always, none of this would be possible without Nancy Yost, our agent, and the amazing people at NYLA.
Finally, we’d like to thank beta readers who patiently suffered through the clunky versions of this manuscript and offered their suggestions: Louise McCoy, Katie Heasley, Francesca Virgili, Loredana Carini, Harriet Chu, and Wendi Adams. Special thanks to Jeaniene Frost—we did “rub some feelings on it”—Jill Smith, and Mod R for the amazing suggestion that drastically improved the final fight.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © Lori Balfe
“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian, and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the US Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)
Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.
They have coauthored four New York Times and USA Today bestselling series: the Kate Daniels urban fantasy series, the Edge rustic fantasy books, the Hidden Legacy paranormal romance novels, and the Innkeeper Chronicles, which they post as a free weekly serial. For a complete list of their books, fun extras, and Innkeeper installments, please visit their website at www.ilona-andrews.com.