Bait

By Viola Grace

Billie first met the love of her life when she was working for the Alliance, but he transferred from her unit, and he was out of her life. Two years later, she is on an assignment to recruit more Enforcers of the Oefric species. Their instincts, shifting abilities and love of order make them ideal officers.

Arcros knew that he could not remain in the same unit as his Terran. He wouldn’t be able to control himself if she was near him and that was a dereliction of duty he was not going to court. Three years later, his people finally admit that he has already chosen his mate and he is allowed to send for her. The Alliance wants twenty warriors in exchange for the woman, and Arcros believes that he is getting the best part of that deal.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Aug 31, 2012
• ISBN: 9781771112574

Viola Grace

Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.

Book preview

Billie has worked for peace and harmony as an Enforcer, but she wants to kick the butt of the man who has the nerve to demand her as his own.

Billie first met the love of her life when she was working for the Alliance, but he transferred from her unit, and he was out of her life. Two years later, she is on an assignment to recruit more Enforcers of the Oefric species. Their instincts, shifting abilities and love of order make them ideal officers.

Arcros knew that he could not remain in the same unit as his Terran. He wouldn’t be able to control himself if she was near him and that was a dereliction of duty he was not going to court. Three years later, his people finally admit that he has already chosen his mate and he is allowed to send for her. The Alliance wants twenty warriors in exchange for the woman, and Arcros believes that he is getting the best part of that deal.

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Bait

Copyright © 2012 Viola Grace

ISBN: 978-1-77111-257-4

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

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Smashwords Edition

Bait

A Terran Times Tale

By

Viola Grace

Prologue

The volcanic explosions rocked the entire planet. Billie Praco held onto the defensive screen in her suit and screamed at her superior officer.

Get your ass out of here, Captain Dlenner! I am stuck, but you have a clear run to the shuttle.

Billie was stuck, pinned beneath a chunk of rock that had tumbled down the hill. Her suit was taking the pressure, but there was no way for her to get out from under it. The researchers that they were evacuating had made it past, but bringing up the rear, Billie hadn’t had a chance.

Officer Praco, you are going to leave this world with us before it shakes apart. Whatever you do, don’t move. Captain Dlenner approached and waved the other officers and the researchers onto the shuttlecraft.

She watched him get nearer, and as he leaned toward the rock, he shifted. His form slid between feline and canine, while his body remained that of a biped. The captain crouched, braced himself and shoved at the rock.

It crackled, pieces cracked away and finally, under his clawed grip, it rolled off her leg and hip. The moment she was free, she tried to rise to her feet, but a dark growl got her attention.

Hands lifted her and cradled her against a massive chest as her Oefric captain carried her past the evacuees and into the shuttle. He settled her carefully on the medical bed, paused to inhale deeply of her hair and skin before shifting back into the normally rugged features she was used to and pretended not to notice every day.

You should have been leading our escape, not following. You know you are prone to getting trapped and tangled. His voice was a growl, but she could hear the gruff concern.

I had to keep an eye on the stragglers. Some of those researchers wanted to record every piece of this planet’s death.

He sighed and smiled as the readouts were displayed. You are fine. Your suit took the damage…again.

She grinned and sat up. Thank you. I will help settle the researchers and get back to my duties.

Captain Dlenner helped her to her feet. I have some paperwork to do. I will re-join the unit on the station.

His hand caressed her cheek softly, and her eyes went wide. Billie had had a crush on her captain since she had been assigned to his unit of Enforcers, but the flaring fantasy that the feeling was mutual had never solidified until now.

Captain Dlenner went into his private office on the shuttle and Billie joined the researchers, taking head counts and making sure that they buckled in. Leaving an unstable world was not going to be comfortable, so the tighter they were tucked in, the better.

As Billie took her own seat and clicked her harness, she