Deception

By M. A. Nilles

Coulter is supposed to be an agent working with Anita Cross to observe the Inari on Earth, but he reveals a different side following the battle at NeoGen Labs. When he takes her prisoner with the Shirukan escaping to the stars, she realizes that the alien in their agency might have been deceiving them all along, waiting for the opportune time to return to his former loyalties. One wrong move could mean the downfall of Earth, but Anita will do all she can to protect her world and learn the truth behind Coulter's deception.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Prairie Star Publishing
• Release date: Apr 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301090372

M. A. Nilles

M. A. Nilles is the darker side of Melanie Nilles. Her published works under the name Melanie Nilles are young adult and adult romantic science fiction and fantasy, including the Starfire Angels series, the Adronis series, The Luriel Cycle trilogy, and other romantic-leaning works. As M. A. Nilles, she writes dark fantasy and science fiction, including Tiger Born, Spirit Blade, and the Legend of the White Dragon epic. More can be found at www.melanienilles.com.

Book preview

Copyright page

DECEPTION

(Starfire Angels: Revelations 1.5)

A Novelette

by M. A. Nilles

Deception is a work of fiction. Characters, names, and incidences described in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons or situations is coincidence.

Deception

Copyright © 2013 by Melanie Nilles

All Rights Reserved

Cover by Melanie Nilles

Cover image: ID 91025636 © Peshkova | Dreamstime.com

Published by Prairie Star Publishing, North Dakota. Smashwords edition.

For more information, email [e-mail] or visit www.melanienilles.com.

* * *

Dedication

This little story is dedicated to all the loyal readers of the Starfire Angels series. Thank you for all the support. It is because of your enthusiasm that I continue writing these books. As you will discover in this mini adventure, I have many more ideas on which to expand the stories of the Inari. I hope you will return for far more revelations and new characters in exciting adventures.

This story takes place in the time immediately after Soriel disappears during the fight at NeoGen Labs and is the first of the series to feature a human character. Enjoy!

Table of Contents

_________________

Deception

Copyright Page

Dedication

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Other books by M.A. Nilles/Melanie Nilles

About the Author

Chapter 1

Headlights dispersed through the night fog, obscuring the ominous shadow of the black spaceship in the parking lot of the remote lab complex. The challenge now was how to move it for study and keep it a secret from the public. That thing was bigger than an Airbus A-380 but with small wings and weapons ports and was completely alien. They needed a way to get it to the underground station in Wyoming without being noticed over the hundreds of miles in between. Anita could think of only one way that might be possible and she knew of one person she trusted to make it happen.

Nearby, Loran Tarolis and his winged crew stood cuffed in line next to one of the trucks that had brought in the men and women of the United States Special Forces who had fought in this battle. They weren't the ones she sought, however.

She scanned the faces around her. He had to be there somewhere.

Agent Cross.

Startled, she spun, and let out her breath in a gust. Damn, it, Coulter! He always found her blind spot. At forty-six, she was getting too old for his stealth habit.

He stood in the agency standard black business suit with that relaxed demeanor that she swore was on purpose, to disarm people and throw off any suspicions of his true nature. He hid it well, but times like that reminded her that he had been trained as a warrior and that she shouldn't underestimate the Shirukan, current or former.

Sorry, ma'am. All Inari are accounted for, except Commander Sarik, Lieutenant Neishan, Soriel, and Kaira.

She nodded, having already witnessed the portal into which Kaira had disappeared with the glowing figure that was supposed to be Soriel, the young man at the center of all the commotion that night. Davrel sat nearby with his arms around Liriana, their shadows contrasting the glimmer from vehicle headlights through the fog. Liriana had been one of Tarolis's Shirukan but had joined the Keepers. Briefing her was a priority.

The other Keeper was still missing. Anita had some questions for that one too. Where's the blue—light blue-haired woman, Nare?

Unknown.

Find her.

Yes, ma'am.

Amid the voices around them, the tromping of boots, and the rumble of engines, a new sound arose.

Coulter turned, his short, dark hair slicked down like hers from the mist condensing in it. Sharp eyes focused on the lights of the ten-story NeoGen Labs main building. Disbursed by the fog, the lights sprayed wide, but she discerned the trembling of those lights.

A wind picked up, swirling the fog.

Voices fell silent as the quaking of the ground rose through her legs. Whispers of Earthquake broke the silence from the soldiers around her. The area may have been prone to quakes, but she doubted this was one of them. It was too coincidental.

Something flashed ahead, outlining the vague shadow of the building. The crackle of electrical discharge nearly stopped her heart. What is that?

An answer popped into her head the second the question left her lips, filling her with dread. Anita whirled and rushed to Tarolis, the