I’ll be sharing the first chapter from Defying Death over the next few weeks.
Read the first scene here: http://tasteofcyn.com/2016/04/20/first-scene-from-defying-death/
Here is the next scene
“We’ve escaped the Humanoid Alliance.” Crash’s voice boomed. “We are now free.”
Warriors cheered. Death remained silent. They’d thought themselves free in the past, only to discover another chain to their creators, entrapping them once more.
“We can find and retrieve our females,” Mayhem yelled.
Another round of cheers swept across the chamber.
Crash exchanged a glance with his female. “Before you retrieve your females, we must voyage to the Homeland, join our brethren there.”
“And leave our females in danger?” another warrior asked.
“Is that what Gap would do?” a newly manufactured cyborg asked.
The warriors shook their heads, murmuring their discontentment.
Gap, a G model cyborg, had ended his existence on Tau Ceti. He had rushed into a tunnel, a place no logical warrior would ever venture, to try to protect his human female and they never exited. The cyborg and his female had been burned alive by the enemy.
Before Gap had died, he’d experienced one perfect moment of happiness with his Nymphia. The female had clung to him, looked at him with softness and love.
Death wouldn’t have hesitated to trade places with Gap. He would have happily sacrificed his lifespan for that one moment.
The other warriors envied the G model also. Many looked at him as a hero.
“Gap returned to the Homeland after escaping the Humanoid Alliance.” Crash’s voice was edged with sadness. The E model had been Gap’s best friend. He had taken the warrior’s death hard.
“If he hadn’t returned to the Homeland, he might have reached his female sooner,” a warrior argued.
“They’d be alive.” Another warrior pointed out.
The males around him nodded.
They weren’t concerned for themselves. Cyborgs were manufactured to fight and eventually to die in battle. They’d long resigned themselves to that fate.
But to leave their females unprotected was unthinkable.
Death’s fingers curled, his fingertips pressing into his palms. His female wasn’t in danger, wasn’t positioned near any fighting.
“Our orders are to return to the Homeland.” Crash’s voice rang with authority.
The warriors fell silent. They’d been trained to obey and all of them were aware that, if it hadn’t been for Crash, they would still be under the control of the Humanoid Alliance. They owed him some loyalty.
“While we voyage to our planet, a planet where all cyborgs are free.” Crash emphasized that word. “My female’s friend, Tifara, must be retrieved. She knows too much about us to remain amongst the humans.”
Death’s circuits buzzed with excitement, with lust, with wanting.
Tifara, his female, was to be retrieved. He wouldn’t have to wait to see her, touch her, breed with her.
“I volunteer for the mission.” He stepped forward, his eagerness concealed under a blank expression.
Seven cyborgs also stepped forward, echoing his words.
Rage roared through Death. She was his. His. The primitive human part of him wanted to lunge toward them, fists swinging, to physically stake his claim, pounding his rivals into the tiled floor, ensuring they never touched his Tifara.
It took everything he had to stand motionless, to show none of his feelings.
Crash looked at Safyre. Safyre dipped her head. “There’s no need for that sacrifice, warriors. Ace and Thrasher have already agreed to retrieve Tifara.” She waved her hands at the two K model cyborgs, their images projected onto the wall.
They grinned, smug with the honor bestowed upon them.
These two warriors would touch his female. Death’s anger escalated. They’d be responsible for retrieving her, for protecting her.
They were more open with their emotion, more human. She might form an attachment to them. They could steal his happiness, his future from him.
He wouldn’t allow that.
“No.” Death lifted his chin. “I will retrieve her.”
Crash frowned.
The other cyborgs shuffled backward.
Death stood his ground. Tifara was more important to him than his honor, than any perceived debt or allegiance to Crash.
“Why do you want to retrieve her?” Safyre asked. “Is she your female?”
Death’s jaw jutted. She was, but admitting that would put Tifara at risk.
Cyborgs couldn’t lie. If any of them were captured by the Humanoid Alliance and questioned, they would tell the humans about Tifara, about his weakness for her. The Humanoid Alliance would use her as bait. Once they apprehended him, they’d kill her.
Death chose to remain silent. He’d earn the right to retrieve Tifara based on his worth. He’d helped orchestrate the escape from the Humanoid Alliance. He’d protected Safyre when Crash couldn’t. He deserved the mission.
“Of course, she isn’t your female.” Safyre shook her head, the tuft of orange hair on top of her head bobbing. “What am I thinking? If she was, you would have stolen the fuckin’ scarf she gave me. You’d be talking my ear off about how good she smells and the names you’ll give your offspring and other shit like that.”
Death gazed at her. He didn’t chatter unnecessarily. Ever.
“Or maybe you wouldn’t.” Safyre grinned, reaching that same conclusion. “You’re as grim as fuck.” The cyborgs around them laughed. “You’re a worthy male, Death, and I do love you, but I can’t think of a warrior any less suited for my soft-hearted, always-laughing friend than you. She would try to heal all of the beings you killed and—”
“Female.” Crash stopped her chattering. Death, the J models look to you for leadership, he transmitted on a private line. I depend on you to communicate with them.
Mayhem will take over that role. Death had thought of that already. He’ll communicate with the J models.
Read the next scene (available May 11th) here: http://tasteofcyn.com/2016/05/11/fourth-scene-from-defying-death/
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Defying Death
He’ll risk it all for one moment of happiness.
Cyborgs don’t show emotion. Death learned that lesson early in his long lifespan. To survive, he hides his fierce passions behind a stoic wall. He calls no warrior friend. He never admits to caring for any being.
Even the human female he’s destined to love.
Tifara is Death’s obsession, his sole opportunity for happiness, to express the all-consuming passion burning brightly inside him. He’ll do anything to obtain the curvaceous medic: defy a direct order, abduct Tifara from her battle station, and wage war on his fellow cyborgs.
To earn her love, he’ll have to risk much, much more.
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Defying-Death-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01D6OUQS2/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Defying-Death-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01D6OUQS2/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-defyingdeath-2001671-147.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/defying-death-cynthia-sax/1123562659
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/defying-death-2
