Jager: Galactic Defenders, #2

By Jessica E. Subject

Jager's new squad of Defenders has completed training, but the spoiled princess who has grated on his nerves since her first day of training is called back to Hemera for a yearly celebration. When Princess Katrina doesn't show up, Jager must find her and drag her home, where he wishes she would stay.

Katrina is a Defender, not a princess. And there is no way she wants to return to a planet she hates for some stupid ceremony. Not when she could be out killing Erebus with her squad.

But when a new enemy threatens both their lives, they must work together to survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jessica E. Subject
• Release date: Mar 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781988428055

Jessica E. Subject

Jessica E. Subject is the author of science fiction romance, mostly alien romances, ranging from sweet to super hot. Sometimes she dabbles in paranormal and contemporary as well, bringing to life a wide variety of characters. In her stories, you can not only meet a sexy alien or two, but also clones and androids. You may be transported to a dystopian world where rebels are fighting to live and love, or to another planet for a romantic rendezvous. When Jessica is not reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to go to fitness class, listen to BTS, and walk her Great Pyrenees/Retriever her family adopted from the local animal shelter. Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers.

Book preview

Jager blurb:

Jager's new squad of Defenders has completed training, but the spoiled princess who has grated on his nerves since her first day of training is called back to Hemera for a yearly celebration. When Princess Katrina doesn't show up, Jager must find her and drag her home, where he wishes she would stay.

Katrina is a Defender, not a princess. And there is no way she wants to return to a planet she hates for some stupid ceremony. Not when she could be out killing Erebus with her squad.

But when a new enemy threatens both their lives, they must work together to survive.

Jager (Galactic Defenders Book Two)

Copyright 2017 Jessica E Subject

Published by Jessica E. Subject

Cover Art by Fantasia Frog Designs

ISBN: 978-1-988428-05-5

Edited by Kate Richards of Wizards in Publishing Editing Services

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

JAGER

Galactic Defenders Book Two

By

Jessica E. Subject

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Sneak Peek at Jace (book three)

Thank you from the Author

Bibliography

About the Author

Prologue

Are you sure this is what you want?

Katrina tossed the duffle bag of her few belongings to the young Defender on the waiting shuttle. "Yes, Mom. We’ve been through this a million times. I want to be a Defender."

But you can wait a couple of years. Her mother, the queen of Hemera, paced between her and the ten-passenger Alliance ship ready to take Katrina to Kalara where she would train to fight the Erebus. Get used to living away from Earth, here, where you know people.

What better way to get to know all the races of the universe than to train alongside them. It’s like French immersion, which you thought a good idea when I started school on Earth.

Yes, but you were only gone for a few hours each day. Now, you’ll be on a completely different planet. I don’t know when I’ll see you again.

Katrina had hoped leaving the day after her mother’s wedding to her father would make her departure easier, with her mom occupied in wedded bliss. But the plan had backfired, with both her parents, dressed in their royal attire, there to see her off. Different city, different planet, what difference does it make? I’d be going away to university this year anyway.

She caught the two-fingered wave between the Defender and Bryce, her father. He nodded in response then rested a callused hand on her mother’s bare shoulder. It’s time to say goodbye, Lalia.

Thank goodness for his support. Even though Bryce had his own hesitation about her leaving for Defender training, it had nothing to do with not allowing her to grow up. He simply wanted more time to get to know her. Though, from the stories she’d overheard from other Defenders, she was just like him.

Katrina hugged her mother and kissed her pale cheek. I will try to contact you every day. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.

Yes, you will. Bryce squeezed Katrina’s shoulder, his way of showing affection. She didn’t know if it was the Kalaren version of a hug, or a result of years of not knowing he had a child. Either way, she wouldn’t hold it against him. She still had to get used to the idea, too.

Thanks, Dad. She loved the look of shock then pride elicited from calling him that even after several times.

He smiled and squeezed again. If you have any questions, problems, or need anything, let me know.

She nodded before turning her attention to her last farewell. Her little sister. Even though not technically related, Gwenodyn filled the longing she’d always had for a sibling. And she was a smart girl, too. Being half-Mingot, she possessed the ability to read minds and could influence others to get what she wanted. In fact, she had succeeded many times in convincing Katrina to sneak her food or play when they were both supposed to be studying Hemera culture. Until a Mingot Defender who had served in Bryce’s former squad had caught on and decided she needed to be taught not to read others’ thoughts without permission. After Jace’s scolding, Katrina tried not to broadcast her thoughts so loud.

Cosmos, she would miss Gwenodyn the most, her big brown, curious eyes and bouncy ringlets of hair. Hey, sister, you keep an eye on my parents for me. Don’t let them get into too much trouble.

I won’t. Gwenodyn clasped her hands together and shook her body side to side as if ready to pop. And you stay focused on your studies instead of all those cute Defenders.

Katrina’s cheeks warmed even before she noticed the gaze of everyone around them on her, including the guy waiting for her on the shuttle. He was cute but by no means the best-looking Defender she’d met since she’d left Earth.

Leaning down, she gave Gwenodyn a big hug. You need to stay out of my head.

The little girl giggled. I couldn’t resist one more peek.

With a deep breath, Katrina stepped away from her family. She waved and, before she could chicken out, headed into the shuttle.

All set, she called as soon as she had buckled her harness. She didn’t need the Defender to check. After Gwenodyn’s comment, having to make eye contact with him would embarrass her more.

It didn’t take long—a few hours rather than several days like previous trips—for them to reach the monstrous five-level carrier. Kimba, the leader of the Galactic Alliance, waited for her in the shuttle bay. Welcome to your first day as a trainee. She gestured for Katrina to walk along with her.

Pack slung over her shoulder, she followed the woman through already-familiar halls. I’m ready to officially become a Defender.

Perfect. Kimba followed her into the lift. Today, I will take you to your quarters where you will become familiar with the rules and routines of our Defenders.

The lift opened into a large, circular hall, and through the throng of beings, she spotted small doors around half of it. The cacophony of noise greeting them ended in silence. Everyone saluted the leader—two fingers touching the forehead then brought down in front of the face. Crap, she’d forgotten to do that. Yet, after their previous argument over saving the Defenders on Niesgoo, she didn’t feel like saluting the woman.

Kimba gave a curt nod, and the noise returned. You’re the first door over there, your father’s old room. It has been reprogrammed to unlock with your thumbprint. Captain Jager is your squad leader, and he will be by later to introduce himself.

Jager. She knew the name but couldn’t remember how.

Training starts tomorrow, Kimba continued, her short tentacles straight behind as if she was just as anxious to leave as Katrina was to see her go. And will take place on the carrier until we reach Kalara’s orbit.

Thank you. She saluted the leader. And sorry for not saluting earlier.

It’s quite all right—once. You’ve had a lot to learn in a short span of time. She ducked back onto the lift. If you have any problems, my office door is always open to you. Otherwise, I’ll see you again at your first inspection.

And with those words, the woman left, the tension between them disappearing along with her. Katrina stood against the wall of the space filled with Defenders from all over the universe. Jace and Oflan, the only two Defenders on board she knew well, were nowhere in sight. While her mother would have encouraged her to go up to some of the others and introduce herself, she preferred to settle into her new quarters. She didn’t imagine she’d have much free time once her training started. Making her way through the crowd, she gave a brief smile to those she passed.

Look at the princess, a Gersonian Defender said from twenty feet away, his thick wattle shaking with every word. Can’t socialize with anyone. Thinks she’s better than everyone else.

I heard she got Bryce’s old room, his female companion said. High-ranking quarters for a newbie.

Katrina let the comments slide. Though neither of them had said a word to her during her previous stays on the carrier, they now seemed to resent her. Nothing she said would change their mind. No different than on Earth.

Out of my way, Terran filth. A Kalaren Defender shoved past her.

My name is Katrina, and I’m part Kalaren, like you.

The leggy woman spun to face her. "You’re nothing like me. And we all know who you are. Your father may be one of the greatest Defenders ever, but your mother comes from the most backward planet in the Alliance, and you were raised on Terra. Or, I guess, Earth is what you call it. You are the lowest of the low here, and no matter how much training you go through, you always will be. I doubt you’ll make it through the first day."

Katrina had reached the door of her quarters, but she couldn’t resist a response. She’d already proved herself to those who mattered. You know, we have people like you on Earth. We call them bitches. Look it up. She entered her quarters, imagining a stunned look on the woman’s birdlike face.

Training as a Defender already reminded her of her years in high school. Yet, she did long to see her friends again. She’d graduated, had received her final marks but missed the ceremony and the after-party. And any chance she’d ever had for a date with Jeff Bennett, the hottest smart guy at her school. On her eighteenth birthday, he’d asked her out to dinner the week after, but she’d stood him up, unable to get back to earth for the date. She could never return to that life now. The planet she grew up on was several galaxies and portal jumps away. Plus, she could never fit in there again after all she’d learned about the universe. Not