Tour: Caged Warrior by Lindsay Piper
EXCERPT:
In
this scene, Audrey—now a trained but untested Cage warrior—prepares to join
Leto, her mentor and would-be lover, in their first Cage match…
this scene, Audrey—now a trained but untested Cage warrior—prepares to join
Leto, her mentor and would-be lover, in their first Cage match…
“Armor on,” she
heard Leto call as he strode up the corridor. “You’ve worked hard
heard Leto call as he strode up the corridor. “You’ve worked hard
these last few
days.”
days.”
He crossed his
arms and leaned against the nearest wall, as was his habit. He looked . . .
magnificent. Whatever armor he’d worn in the past must’ve been for the sake of
training. This set was immaculate. Polished bronze accented black metal as dark
and lustrous as onyx. Protective layers over his right shoulder accentuated the
breadth of his upper body, while his bare left shoulder revealed striated,
defined muscle. The leather wrapped around his forearms seemed to be a part of him.
Stronger. More supple. Not on its own, but because of the toned flesh it
protected. More leather tucked around his waist and laced around his thighs, clinging
and accentuating his strength.
arms and leaned against the nearest wall, as was his habit. He looked . . .
magnificent. Whatever armor he’d worn in the past must’ve been for the sake of
training. This set was immaculate. Polished bronze accented black metal as dark
and lustrous as onyx. Protective layers over his right shoulder accentuated the
breadth of his upper body, while his bare left shoulder revealed striated,
defined muscle. The leather wrapped around his forearms seemed to be a part of him.
Stronger. More supple. Not on its own, but because of the toned flesh it
protected. More leather tucked around his waist and laced around his thighs, clinging
and accentuating his strength.
He was freshly
shaved. Defiant jaw. Lean cheeks. Raised chin. Even his hair was shorter. Dark.
So dark. She ran a hand over her own cropped hair and felt a rush of
camaraderie.
shaved. Defiant jaw. Lean cheeks. Raised chin. Even his hair was shorter. Dark.
So dark. She ran a hand over her own cropped hair and felt a rush of
camaraderie.
“You’re going
to need to dress faster than that,” he said, “if you want to meet the Old Man
before we begin the match.”
to need to dress faster than that,” he said, “if you want to meet the Old Man
before we begin the match.”
“Of course.”
One eyebrow
lifted only a fraction. She read more of his cocky, amused mood from the way he
widened his stance. He pushed his shoulder blades flush against the wall. Chest
out. Taller now. More intimidating. Only, she wasn’t intimidated anymore. She
couldn’t remember why she had been.
lifted only a fraction. She read more of his cocky, amused mood from the way he
widened his stance. He pushed his shoulder blades flush against the wall. Chest
out. Taller now. More intimidating. Only, she wasn’t intimidated anymore. She
couldn’t remember why she had been.
Rather than
rush through her preparations, Nynn crossed the training cell—not toward the
pile of her armor, but toward Leto. Wearing only her leather trousers and the
tank top she slept in, she was conscious, so conscious, of his dark eyes
following her. No animal. No beast. This was a man who knew his place in the
world. Reveled in it. She was becoming the woman he wanted her to be, but he
was still Leto. Her mentor. She wanted to touch him, to bask in his courage.
rush through her preparations, Nynn crossed the training cell—not toward the
pile of her armor, but toward Leto. Wearing only her leather trousers and the
tank top she slept in, she was conscious, so conscious, of his dark eyes
following her. No animal. No beast. This was a man who knew his place in the
world. Reveled in it. She was becoming the woman he wanted her to be, but he
was still Leto. Her mentor. She wanted to touch him, to bask in his courage.
“Do you
believe that I deserve to stand in a Cage with you?”
believe that I deserve to stand in a Cage with you?”
“Yes.” He said
it with such confidence.
it with such confidence.
She needed to
close her eyes. His approval. It meant more to her than she could explain. All
she knew was that the rush of sensation upon hearing that one word was liquid
and warming.
close her eyes. His approval. It meant more to her than she could explain. All
she knew was that the rush of sensation upon hearing that one word was liquid
and warming.
“May I?” She
lifted her gaze to the head of his snake tattoo. His fresh buzz cut left it
clearly visible. “I want to see it. All of it.”
lifted her gaze to the head of his snake tattoo. His fresh buzz cut left it
clearly visible. “I want to see it. All of it.”
“That would
mean turning my back to you.”
mean turning my back to you.”
“I’m not your
enemy, remember?” She grinned. “Besides, you haven’t armed me yet. Collar on.
No knife in hand. What could you fear from me?”
enemy, remember?” She grinned. “Besides, you haven’t armed me yet. Collar on.
No knife in hand. What could you fear from me?”
“Nothing.” But
then he swallowed.
then he swallowed.
Nynn hid her
surprise, her curiosity, and reached up to touch the snake’s hissing tongue.
First, just skin beneath her fingers, where that tongue licked toward his smooth
temple. She pushed back. Farther. The hair beneath her fingertips was stubbly
but not coarse. She traced the body of the serpent until he was left with a choice:
let that be the end of her exploration, or turn.
surprise, her curiosity, and reached up to touch the snake’s hissing tongue.
First, just skin beneath her fingers, where that tongue licked toward his smooth
temple. She pushed back. Farther. The hair beneath her fingertips was stubbly
but not coarse. She traced the body of the serpent until he was left with a choice:
let that be the end of her exploration, or turn.
He watched her
with unmistakable curiosity. Unmistakable even for him. Normally reading his
expressions was like casting rune stones, a trick only the wild Pendray in the
Highlands knew how to do. Right then, however, he lifted his coal-dark brows
even higher. A muscle twitched along his scarred lip. Nearly a smile? A dare?
with unmistakable curiosity. Unmistakable even for him. Normally reading his
expressions was like casting rune stones, a trick only the wild Pendray in the
Highlands knew how to do. Right then, however, he lifted his coal-dark brows
even higher. A muscle twitched along his scarred lip. Nearly a smile? A dare?
No, accepting
a dare.
a dare.
He turned
slowly. Nynn had free rein to continue the path of that black serpent. It lay
only partially concealed behind rich velvet hair. The tattoo ink was so dark.
She tipped her finger to another angle. Fingernail now. The clash of swords and
the swing of a scythe weren’t enough to make this fantastic male specimen
flinch, but the scrape of her fingernail did. She shivered in response.
slowly. Nynn had free rein to continue the path of that black serpent. It lay
only partially concealed behind rich velvet hair. The tattoo ink was so dark.
She tipped her finger to another angle. Fingernail now. The clash of swords and
the swing of a scythe weren’t enough to make this fantastic male specimen
flinch, but the scrape of her fingernail did. She shivered in response.
Still he
turned. So slowly. She flicked her gaze between the tattoo and the portion of
his back left bare by his crisscrossed armor straps. Muscles flexed and pulled,
even with that achingly patient pace. The overhead bulbs cast extreme shadows.
Every ridge sharper. Every curve more graceful. New patterns of light and dark
and flesh were revealed no matter how insignificant his movement.
turned. So slowly. She flicked her gaze between the tattoo and the portion of
his back left bare by his crisscrossed armor straps. Muscles flexed and pulled,
even with that achingly patient pace. The overhead bulbs cast extreme shadows.
Every ridge sharper. Every curve more graceful. New patterns of light and dark
and flesh were revealed no matter how insignificant his movement.
That sounded
poetic, even to Nynn. Had she always thought to describe things with an
artist’s eye, or was Leto just special? After all, he was man enough to inspire
poetry in any mind. Throughout human history, odes had been written and
masterpieces had been created to honor Dragon Kings.
poetic, even to Nynn. Had she always thought to describe things with an
artist’s eye, or was Leto just special? After all, he was man enough to inspire
poetry in any mind. Throughout human history, odes had been written and
masterpieces had been created to honor Dragon Kings.
Olympus.
Thebes. Varanasi. Cahokia. Skara Brae.
Thebes. Varanasi. Cahokia. Skara Brae.
No matter the
city, no matter the tribe, men such as Leto had walked among human beings and
reigned as gods. Awed subjects had looked upon such perfect bodies and found
generous muses. Now she was touching him. Scraping his skin with one ragged
fingernail.
city, no matter the tribe, men such as Leto had walked among human beings and
reigned as gods. Awed subjects had looked upon such perfect bodies and found
generous muses. Now she was touching him. Scraping his skin with one ragged
fingernail.
He turned to face
her, so that she finished with the serpent’s tail—slim, slimmer, gone—just at
his other temple.
her, so that she finished with the serpent’s tail—slim, slimmer, gone—just at
his other temple.
Their eyes
met. Gold sparked between them. They both blinked and Nynn drew her hand away.
met. Gold sparked between them. They both blinked and Nynn drew her hand away.
“Why the
tattoo?”
tattoo?”
“Initiation
ceremony. If you do well tonight, you might be offered the same honor.”
ceremony. If you do well tonight, you might be offered the same honor.”
She smiled,
which always seemed to catch him off guard. “I don’t intend to do well.”
which always seemed to catch him off guard. “I don’t intend to do well.”
“That’s not
the attitude of a—”
the attitude of a—”
“Of a
champion?” Her smile widened. “I know it’s not. Are you listening to your
neophyte, Leto of Clan Garnis?”
champion?” Her smile widened. “I know it’s not. Are you listening to your
neophyte, Leto of Clan Garnis?”
His brows
pinched toward the bridge of his nose. Confusion didn’t suit him but she
enjoyed taking him by surprise. “Yes, I’m listening.”
pinched toward the bridge of his nose. Confusion didn’t suit him but she
enjoyed taking him by surprise. “Yes, I’m listening.”
“I intend to be astonishing. Be ready to keep up.”
SILENT WARRIOR
The Dragon Kings, Prequel Novella
Publication
Date: April 23, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Star
ISBN: 978-1476713250
Only 99¢!
Available at: Amazon | Apple | B&N | Books-a-Million | Google | Kobo
Date: April 23, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Star
ISBN: 978-1476713250
Only 99¢!
Available at: Amazon | Apple | B&N | Books-a-Million | Google | Kobo
A silent woman ashamed of her
criminal background becomes a Cage warrior to seek redemption. An unrepentant
fortune hunter will do anything to escape his mounting debts. Although rivals
on the streets of Hong Kong, they find common ground when seeking their clan’s
stolen idol, but for vastly different reasons. Neither one suspects that love
will begin when he becomes the first man in five years to hear her speak.
criminal background becomes a Cage warrior to seek redemption. An unrepentant
fortune hunter will do anything to escape his mounting debts. Although rivals
on the streets of Hong Kong, they find common ground when seeking their clan’s
stolen idol, but for vastly different reasons. Neither one suspects that love
will begin when he becomes the first man in five years to hear her speak.
CAGED WARRIOR
The Dragon Kings, Book 1
Publication Date: June 25, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Star
Print ISBN: 978-1451695915
Available Now: Amazon | B&N | Book
Depository | Books-a-Million | Powell’s
Publisher: Pocket Star
Print ISBN: 978-1451695915
Available Now: Amazon | B&N | Book
Depository | Books-a-Million | Powell’s
Ten years ago, Audrey MacLaren chose
to marry her human lover, making her an exile from the Dragon Kings, an ancient
race of demons once worshiped as earthly gods. Audrey and her husband managed
to conceive, and their son is the first natural-born Dragon King in a
generation–which makes him irresistible to the sadistic scientist whose
mafia-funded technology allows demon procreation. In the year since her husband
was murdered, Audrey and her little boy have endured hideous experiments.
to marry her human lover, making her an exile from the Dragon Kings, an ancient
race of demons once worshiped as earthly gods. Audrey and her husband managed
to conceive, and their son is the first natural-born Dragon King in a
generation–which makes him irresistible to the sadistic scientist whose
mafia-funded technology allows demon procreation. In the year since her husband
was murdered, Audrey and her little boy have endured hideous experiments.
Shackled with a collar and bound for
life, Leto Garnis is a Cage warrior. Only through combat can Dragon Kings earn
the privilege of conceiving children. Leto uses his superhuman speed and
reflexes to secure the right for his two sisters to start families. After
torture reveals Audrey’s astonishing pyrokenesis, she is sent to fight in the
Cages. If she survives a year, she will be reunited with her son. Leto is
charged with her training. Initially, he has no sympathy for her plight. But if
natural conception is possible, what has he been fighting for? As enemies,
sparring partners, lovers, and eventual allies, Leto and Audrey learn that in a
violent underground world, love is the only prize worth winning.
life, Leto Garnis is a Cage warrior. Only through combat can Dragon Kings earn
the privilege of conceiving children. Leto uses his superhuman speed and
reflexes to secure the right for his two sisters to start families. After
torture reveals Audrey’s astonishing pyrokenesis, she is sent to fight in the
Cages. If she survives a year, she will be reunited with her son. Leto is
charged with her training. Initially, he has no sympathy for her plight. But if
natural conception is possible, what has he been fighting for? As enemies,
sparring partners, lovers, and eventual allies, Leto and Audrey learn that in a
violent underground world, love is the only prize worth winning.
BLOOD WARRIOR
The Dragon Kings, Book 3
Publication Date: July 30, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Star
Print ISBN: 978-1451695922
Pre-Order: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Books-a-Million | Powell’s
Publisher: Pocket Star
Print ISBN: 978-1451695922
Pre-Order: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Books-a-Million | Powell’s
As a young man, sarcastic, violent
Tallis Pendray believed the Dragon Kings’ survival depended on a prophecy
delivered in dreams by a woman named “the Sun.” His role has been to complete
inexplicable, even reprehensible tasks. First, by murdering a priest, he united
his fragmented clan in their hatred of him. Dubbed “the Heretic,” Tallis fled
his family’s Highland estate. Now disillusioned, he seeks revenge on the woman
he holds responsible for two decades of exile.
Tallis Pendray believed the Dragon Kings’ survival depended on a prophecy
delivered in dreams by a woman named “the Sun.” His role has been to complete
inexplicable, even reprehensible tasks. First, by murdering a priest, he united
his fragmented clan in their hatred of him. Dubbed “the Heretic,” Tallis fled
his family’s Highland estate. Now disillusioned, he seeks revenge on the woman
he holds responsible for two decades of exile.
Telepath Kavya Indranan is a
charismatic, seductive cult leader born to a prominent family. However, she
grew up terrorized by the ominous threat of her powerful, insane twin brother.
On the run and hiding among the poor, she witnessed the destruction wrought by
her clan’s centuries-old civil war. Maturity nurtures Kavya’s determination to
end the cycle of bloodshed. Those who follow her call for peace have nicknamed
her “the Sun.”
charismatic, seductive cult leader born to a prominent family. However, she
grew up terrorized by the ominous threat of her powerful, insane twin brother.
On the run and hiding among the poor, she witnessed the destruction wrought by
her clan’s centuries-old civil war. Maturity nurtures Kavya’s determination to
end the cycle of bloodshed. Those who follow her call for peace have nicknamed
her “the Sun.”
Bent on revenge, and without
knowledge of Kavya’s noble intentions, Tallis kidnaps her on the eve of her
groundbreaking announcement. The two watch in horror as her twin brutally
smashes the tentative truce…and hunts the sister whose death would make him
invincible.
knowledge of Kavya’s noble intentions, Tallis kidnaps her on the eve of her
groundbreaking announcement. The two watch in horror as her twin brutally
smashes the tentative truce…and hunts the sister whose death would make him
invincible.
Kavya is the Sun–revered, untouched,
and bound by a lonely destiny that promises a deadly showdown against the last
of her family. Tallis is the Heretic–despised and exiled because of actions
that seem random, heartless, and contrary to the safety of the clans he
protects. She’s not a goddess, and he’s not a natural born killer. A desperate
trek from the Himalayan foothills to the Scottish Highlands reveals two
secluded souls hidden by bloody reputations. Will their trust be strong enough
to avert an all-out war that could destroy them, and their kind, forever?
and bound by a lonely destiny that promises a deadly showdown against the last
of her family. Tallis is the Heretic–despised and exiled because of actions
that seem random, heartless, and contrary to the safety of the clans he
protects. She’s not a goddess, and he’s not a natural born killer. A desperate
trek from the Himalayan foothills to the Scottish Highlands reveals two
secluded souls hidden by bloody reputations. Will their trust be strong enough
to avert an all-out war that could destroy them, and their kind, forever?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lindsey
Piper is the alter ego of an award-winning historical and contemporary romance
author. Her hotly anticipated DRAGON KINGS series is her first foray into
paranormal fiction. She lives and writes in Chicago.
Piper is the alter ego of an award-winning historical and contemporary romance
author. Her hotly anticipated DRAGON KINGS series is her first foray into
paranormal fiction. She lives and writes in Chicago.
GIVEWAY DETAILS:
Lindsey is giving away the following prizes when the tour ends:
GRAND PRIZE: $25.00 Gift card to Amazon, an eBook of SILENT WARRIOR and a paperback of CAGED WARRIOR
Lindsey is giving away the following prizes when the tour ends:
GRAND PRIZE: $25.00 Gift card to Amazon, an eBook of SILENT WARRIOR and a paperback of CAGED WARRIOR
2ND PLACE: 5 winners will each receive a paperback of CAGED WARRIOR and SWAG
3RD PLACE: 5 winners will receive an eBook of SILENT WARRIOR
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Lindsey Piper’s CAGED WARRIOR Blog
Tour Schedule
June 24 – July 8
6/24 – Book
Monster Reviews
Monster Reviews
6/25 – Sassy
Book Lovers
Book Lovers
6/26 – Book
Pages & Dripping Ink
Pages & Dripping Ink
6/26 – The
Jeep Diva
Jeep Diva
6/27 –
Ramblings From This Chick
Ramblings From This Chick
6/28 – Close
Encounters with the Night Kind
Encounters with the Night Kind
6/29 -Mad
Hatter Reads
Hatter Reads
6/29 –
Fandom Fanatic
Fandom Fanatic
6/30 – Crazy
Four Books
Four Books
7/01 –
Books-n-Kisses
Books-n-Kisses
7/01 – Wicked Readings by Tawania
7/02 – Book
Lovin’ Mamas
Lovin’ Mamas
7/03 –
Books, Books & More Books
Books, Books & More Books
7/03 –
Paranormal Romance Fans For Life
Paranormal Romance Fans For Life
7/03 – You
Gotta Read Reviews
Gotta Read Reviews
7/04 –
Scorching Book Reviews
Scorching Book Reviews
7/05 – My
Secret Romance
Secret Romance
7/06 – Page
Flipperz
Flipperz
7/08 –
Offbeat Vagabond
Offbeat Vagabond
