At Sun's Rising

By Michelle O'Leary

Tycho, a cleric in the Order of the White Sun, is a scientist, not a spy, yet he agrees to go undercover in a secret lab owned by criminal mastermind Webster Griffin. His only contact with the outside world is Nadya, a cleric from the Blue Order, an experienced operative—and a sensual temptation.
Nadya is delightfully drawn to her new partner, but she can't afford distractions. She has to support him and pass his findings along to her superiors…without getting them both killed. Will they uncover Griffin's secrets or become more victims in his bloody rise to domination?

• Language: Unknown
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
• Release date: Apr 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781509230778

Michelle O'Leary

Scifi fantasy romance author Michelle O'Leary resides in Marquette, MI which graces the shore of pristine Lake Superior. Born and raised in Upper Michigan, Michelle is a child of nature, enjoying all things outdoors.Originally published through a small e-publisher, Michelle became an independent author publishing her work through Amazon Kindle, CreateSpace, and Smashwords before being accepted into The Wild Rose Press family. Her titles include The Huntress, The Third Sign, Sunscapes Trilogy, Light of Kaska, and more.Michelle is a mother first, a dedicated chocoholic, a contented Michigander, and a delirious word lover. She loves all feedback and is always happy to hear from readers!

Book preview

Inc.

She snickered and held out her hand. I’m Nadya.

He clasped her fingers, startled by their delicacy and the zip of electricity that ran from her touch all the way through him to his toes. D-Dani Tycho, he stammered in a low voice. When was the last time he’d reacted to a woman on a physical level? And why now? He couldn’t have found a worse time and place. Maybe it was the adrenaline.

I’ve never met a White Order priest before. She retained her grip longer than was polite, looking him up and down. I expected a stuffy dried-up geek with a squint, but you’re just a tower of tasty, aren’t you? I love long, lean men with auburn hair and blue eyes…

Flustered, Tycho broke contact and stepped back, rubbing his hand down his side to get rid of the tingles in his fingers. His face heated under her admiring gaze. I’m just here to work.

She tilted her head to one side and grinned, a twinkle in the rich chocolate of her eyes. And shy too, how adorable. Is it true all Whites are celibate? What a waste that would be. You should have joined the Blue Order. Not giving him a chance to respond, she turned toward the left side of the bay. Come on, let’s get moving before someone comes looking for you.

Praise for the Sunscapes Trilogy

Michelle O’Leary has delivered a sci-fi romance that captures love, hate and Machiavellian schemes of epic proportions. Her fluid style takes readers on an unforgettable journey…

~Fallen Angel Reviews

~*~

"This series with its intriguing mixture of Hunger Games and Star Wars is totally up my alley. From the first book of the trilogy I have avidly devoured the series."

~Veena M., NetGalley Reviewer

~*~

The author has created a complex future world filled with three dimensional characters. I highly recommend the whole series.

~JL J., NetGalley Reviewer

~*~

The Sunscapes Trilogy

Last Chance

Here There Be Dragons

Dawn of the Red Sun

&

At Sun’s Rising (A Sunscapes short story)

Vessel of Power

At Sun’s Rising

by

Michelle O’Leary

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

At Sun’s Rising

Copyright© 2020 by Michelle O’Leary

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Cover Art by Debbie Taylor

The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

PO Box 708

Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

Publishing History

First Fantasy Rose Edition, 2020

Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-3077-8

Published in the United States of America

Dedication

As always, to my family

for their staunch support and encouragement.

And for cracking the whip—

I swear I’ll finish the books you’re waiting for!

Also to Sunscapes readers—

I hope you enjoy this additional glimpse into a world

I fell in love with and couldn’t quite leave

once the trilogy was done.

Chapter One

When Tycho accepted this mission, he hadn’t counted on the terror.

Shifting in his seat, he eyed the bare bulkheads of the transport taking him to parts unknown and tightened his grip on the armrests. The ship’s interior seemed smaller than when he’d boarded, as if it were closing in on him.

How—? he croaked, then cleared his throat and tried again. How much longer?

His escort, who acted more and more like a kidnapper as time went on, flicked him a cold dismissive glance. Best you stay quiet, cleric.

Fantastic. This is what I get for saying yes to the White. He’d known he was in deep trouble when this man hadn’t introduced himself, just grabbed Tycho’s face as if he were livestock, inspected the silver White Order tattoo at his temple, and declared it would have to go. Boss don’t like Sun worshipers, was the only explanation he’d given.

As if that made any logical sense. The nameless thug’s boss, Webster Griffin, had agreed to the White’s offer of Tycho’s services as a scientist, not a preacher. He wasn’t here to spout the order’s doctrine.

I should have known by the look on her face. He had no excuse—Mendani-met K’etarci had warned him, but he’d been so flattered to be chosen by her, so excited at the chance to serve the order. Make no mistake, Dani Tycho. Webster Griffin is a monster, and those he employs are no less fiendish. You will not be safe. But we must know his secrets. The future of the entire galaxy depends on it.

The sorrow and regret on her angular features as she sent him on his way should have been enough to make him reconsider. She’d looked as though she’d sent him to the gallows.

A slight lurch and vibration under him announced the ship had docked somewhere. He sucked in a deep breath, his muscles clenching tighter around the sick knot in his stomach. Maybe the White should have told him less. All knowledge was sacred, but at the moment he wished for blissful ignorance. The future of the galaxy was a bit of a heavy burden.

Let’s go. Tycho’s nameless companion grabbed his arm and jerked him out of the seat, propelling him toward the hatch.

Without thought, Tycho shook off his grip and glared at the man. A dani in the service of the Order of the White Sun should be respected, not manhandled like an animal. Or a piece of property.

Nameless stared him down, eyes like cold lead in a brutish face. Move it.

Tycho swallowed hard, remembering he basically was Griffin’s property now. And he couldn’t even blame the White for it. He’d volunteered for this mission. What was I thinking? I’m not a damned spy. Suns help me, I’m going to fail her and die.

He turned to the hatch, cold sweat trickling down his spine and dampening his white tunic. The small, featureless docking bay outside the ship told him nothing of his location, not that he expected it to. Griffin wouldn’t put a secret laboratory in a recognizable or well-populated place. Not if he wanted it to remain secret.

Merciful Suns, declared a voice behind Tycho, and he spun, startled.

A woman emerged from the hatch behind them. He hadn’t seen her on the trip—their pilot maybe? Pretty with a mess of short, light-brown hair around her face, she studied him with a gleam in her dark eyes and a slow smile.

If I’d known he was our cargo, Rigs, I’d have put us on autopilot and gotten better acquainted.

Tycho’s companion scowled at her. Leave off, Nade. This one’s goin’ in lockdown. Can’t trust new meat.

Meat? Tycho did a double take at the man. Just what had he gotten himself into here?

Always ruining my fun. The woman stuck her bottom lip out a little, but the humor dancing in her eyes and around her mouth took the edge off the pout. She bumped against Tycho’s escort and fluttered her lashes at him. Can I at least walk him in? I’m sure you’d rather get a drink at the cantina.

The man—had she called him Rigs?—scoffed but glanced between Tycho and the woman as if considering her offer. Then he shrugged. Straight there. Nothin’ funny, you hear? I’ll check security logs later, so best behave.

She rolled