Page 1 of Lost in the Dark

TOUCHING THE VOID

EVANGELINE PRIEST

Touching the Voidis a steamy monstrous alien romance about a Voidwalker Sentinel and his long-awaited soul mate.

This story is set in the Obsidian Rift universe featured in my paranormal romance stories with my Legion and Intergalactic Republic universe featured in my sci-fi/alien romances.

The tone is sweet, though there are some dark themes that are mainly off the page, and ends in a non-cliffhanger, happily-for-now.

Featured tropes include: fated mates; instalove; size difference; extra appendages; grumpy-protective males; neurodivergent female; pheromone-induced, graphically-described sex between consenting adults.

Potentially triggering themes include: night terrors, attacks, physical violence, and nightmare world settings.

Vox

“Are the tributes ready?”

I scan the monitors as Ruairc paces behind me. He knows the answer–no–yet it doesn’t deter him from asking me daily. It was my fault for stating that they should be ready within this moon’s cycle. “No, and before you ask, my answer remains the same: you cannot visit her again. That other time was an exception. The transition will go much smoother when we do not interfere. You know that. As one of the elders, you have an obligation to uphold the rules.”

While the tributes sleep on their long journey to our realm, we keep their souls active in what the ancestors call a simulation. A dreaming world created centuries ago by an intergalactic committee of humans and void walkers alike, it allows for human tributes to remain in stasis for prolonged periods without mental harm.

One human tribute can empower a hive unit with their special life force. What they call a soul. I am proud that I have the privilege of overseeing an entire ark of souls. At least that is the potential amount within the computer program.

And Ruairc threatens to disrupt this balance.

“Rules,” Ruairc scoffs, as if he had not been part of the council that helped form the rules a century ago. A shadowy ether curled from his back, smudging his form. His power pulses with his mood, which has gotten exceedingly surly as the lonely years stretched on.

He’s down right abominable now that the tributes–his mate among them–were set to wake any day this cycle.

Ruairc scans the monitors so closely, his black horns scratch against the screen. I place a hand on his shoulder to force him back a few paces. “The next group of tributes are scheduled to awaken soon, so there is much to prepare.” My subtle hints to my counterpart to leave fall on deaf ears.

“One brief visit to the ark won’t hurt?” Ruairc is restless. His tail whips low, as if readying to knock an opponent off his feet. With each step, power hums over his body, activating the crystal swords he has strapped on his back. “This close to the awakening would not make a difference. In fact, it could help her.”

I clench my hands into fists to keep from lashing out at him. After all, he is my equal in standing, though his strengths lie on the battlefield, whereas mine lie in strategy. Together, we have maintained a fortified front for our hive, though we both yearn for our as-yet-to-be-revealed mate. “Ruairc,” I warn. “Every visit is a disruption. Especially this close to the awakening, their life force becomes even sweeter to the wraiths. Think first of her and not your damn cocks.”

My own need burned within me, but I don’t devolve into tantrums.

The younger void walker stills. “I heard that in the last rotation, only one female transitioned successfully.”

Meaning, only one female survived…I keep my thoughts to myself. There is no use adding to his anxiety.

I heard that rumor as well. The winnowing disease had decimated the hive closest to ours, taking many tributes with them. We recovered many of the souls, but each soul is precious. To lose one is to lose an infinite moment.

Though it is troubling indeed, I do not give voice to my worries as Ruairc does. We are grateful for any tributes, no matter the batch size. “We can’t know for sure.”

“You don’t think there’s been another reaping?” The young warrior squared off against me now. “Remember that the last one survived because the triad who are now her mates fought off the wraiths who fed from the others.”

A vicious growl tears from my mouth. Void wraiths were abominations to guard against. Infecting hives, tormenting souls before they devour them. I triple-shielded our hive against such a horrible fate. “No,” I say with more conviction than I believe. “And just to be sure, we shall give our operators all the time they need to ready more souls to join us.”

I allow a small smile at the thought. I have yet to see my mate’s chosen form, but whatever body she has chosen will be perfect. Soon, I shall wake her from her long sleep.

Ruairc looks dejected and the worry increases. Lightning streaks within the black clouds that circle around him. “Isn’t your mate also due to awaken this cycle? What if they don’t transition?”

“She will make it.” I hate how the sharp edges of my words belie my hidden fears.

“You said yourself, this is the most vulnerable time. Didn’t you have to fend off a few wraiths yourself to keep her safe a few nights ago?”

Worry grips my heart for my mate. Damn Ruairc.

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