Rebels and Lovers Read online

  PRAISE FOR LINNEA SINCLAIR

  “One of the most acknowledged and well-received authors in sci-fi romance today.”

  —PNR Reviews

  “Linnea Sinclair writes in two of my favorite genres—science fiction and romance—at the same time. She does it very well, combining the richness and inventiveness of science fiction with the great characterization of romance. The romances are wonderful, the world-building strong. If you love either genre, you’ll enjoy Sinclair.”

  —KRISTINE KATHRYN RUSCH, author of Diving into the Wreck

  PRAISE FOR HOPE’S FOLLY

  Nominated for the 2009 Romantic Times

  Reviewers’ Choice Award

  “4½ stars. Top pick! Hang on to your phasers as Sinclair blasts off on another rip-roaring space adventure. … A roller-coaster ride in the extreme!”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “Sinclair shares her phenomenal writing talent with a well-built sci-fi world, and characters who charm their way right into the reader’s heart. … Whether you’ve read the previous books or not, you’re in for a wonderful treat that will surely leave you dreaming of life among the stars.”

  —Darque Reviews

  “What I imagine a David Weber romance might be like—a rousing military space adventure with sex thrown in, and protagonists who are way more interested in each other’s weapons than their clothes. … Between sabotage, military action, romantic tension, and some interesting jury-rigged weaponry, it’s a fraught flight, and great fun.”

  —Locus

  “Action packed from beginning to end … I was on the edge of my seat with this one and even though I dreaded reading The End because the story would be over, it still did not make me slow down reading this book one iota! Linnea Sinclair is one author on my keeper shelf and her books are always rereads for me!”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “Too many authors on the romance side forget the science fiction part and too many science fiction writers simply can’t write the romance well. Sinclair blends them perfectly. … The pacing is fast, the dialogue is excellent, and the book is full of secondary characters who are so well drawn they could carry a novel on their own. Highly recommended, as are the rest of Sinclair’s books.”

  —Sequential Tart

  “Once again Linnea Sinclair delivers. Hope’s Folly is the perfect combination of an action-packed sci-fi space romp and a heart-warming romance. A keeper.”

  —The Book Smugglers

  PRAISE FOR SHADES OF DARK

  Winner of 2009 PRISM Award for Best Futuristic

  Winner of the 2008 Romantic Times Reviewers’

  Choice Award for Best Futuristic/Fantasy Romance

  Winner of the 2008 PEARL Award for

  Best Science Fiction/Fantasy

  Romance Reviews Today Perfect 10 Award

  “A rip-roaring tale of danger, passion, and hard choices. No one blends romance and science fiction like Linnea Sinclair, and Shades of Dark is another sizzling page-turner!”

  —MARY JO PUTNEY, author of A Distant Magic

  “A masterpiece … Not to be missed … Linnea Sinclair is always an author you can count on for amazing stories and is one of the best in the business. Shades of Dark is going down as one of my favorite books of all time and well deserves RRT’s Perfect 10 award for excellence!”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “Shades of Dark is one of those rare entities; a sequel that is as good, if not better, than the original. … This story is a compelling page-turner and a novel that firmly places Linnea Sinclair in my select group of must-have authors. Five cups.”

  —Coffee Time Romance

  PRAISE FOR THE DOWN HOME ZOMBIE BLUES

  Honorable Mention for the 2007 PEARL Award for

  Best Futuristic Romance

  Nominated for the 2007 Romantic Times Reviewer’s

  Choice Awards for Best Futuristic/Fantasy Romance

  “Linnea Sinclair invades Earth with a rip-roaring, genre-bending, edge-of-your-seat read that has it all: crackling action, monsters, double-crossers, unlikely heroes, and a fully realized love story. I loved it!”

  —SUSAN GRANT, New York Times bestselling author of Moonstruck

  “From its tongue-in-cheek title to its melding of romance and zombie-killing action, there’s little in Sinclair’s newest sci-fi romance that doesn’t surprise, grip or entertain. … Fans of romance and fantasy hunting for edgier fare can stop singing the blues.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Quirky, offbeat and packed with gritty action, this blistering novel explodes out of the gate and never looks back. Counting on Sinclair to provide top-notch science fiction elaborately spiced with romance and adventure is a given, but she really aces this one! A must-read, by an author who never disappoints. 4½ stars. Top pick!”

  —Romantic Times

  “Outstanding … Realistic characters, romance, humor, conflict and suspense, what more could a paranormal fan ask for in a sf/futuristic novel? … A keeper.”

  —PNR Reviews

  PRAISE FOR GAMES OF COMMAND

  Winner of the 2007 PEARL Award for Best Science

  Fiction and Fantasy Romance

  2008 RIT® Finalist for Best Paranormal Romance

  AllAboutRomance.com Top Ten SF/Fantasy &

  Futuristic Romances

  “Linnea Sinclair just gets better and better! Games of Command is not to be missed!”

  —MARY JO PUTNEY, author of A Distant Magic

  “Games of Command is a wonderful book. Linnea Sinclair has written a unique and utterly intriguing hero in Kel-Paten. Sexy, complex and devoted, he’s a man to fall in love with.”

  —NALINI SINGH, author of Hostage to Pleasure

  “When it comes to high-flying adventure, political intrigue and dark romance, Sinclair has it aced! This surprising tale is filled with shifting loyalties, deception and jaw-dropping flying maneuvers. … 4½ stars.

  —Romantic Times

  PRAISE FOR AN ACCIDENTAL GODDESS

  Winner of the 2003 RWA® Windy City Choice Award

  for Best FF&P Romance

  2002 PEARL Award Honorable Mention for

  Best Science Fiction Novel

  Romantic Times BookClub magazine’s 2002 Gold

  Medal Top Pick Award

  “Entirely entertaining.”

  —Contra Costa Times

  “Proves once again why Sinclair is one of the reigning queens of science fiction romances … This is a book [with] bright, attractive characters, an interesting plot, action, adventure, humor and romance.”

  —Starlog

  “A star in the making.”

  —SFCrowsnest.com

  PRAISE FOR GABRIEL’S GHOST

  Winner of the 2006 RITA® Award for

  Best Paranormal Romance

  2003 Prism Award, 2nd place (tied with An

  Accidental Goddess), for Best Futuristic Romance

  2002 Sapphire Award, 2nd place (tied with An Accidental

  Goddess), for Best Speculative Romance Novel

  Romance Reviews Today Perfect 10 Award

  “Both an exciting sci-fi adventure and a warm romance, with deep characterization and meaningful relationships. Highly recommended.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “There isn’t a shadow of a doubt in this reviewer’s mind that Bantam has a bona fide interstellar star in this author. Prepare to be star-struck, dear reader.”

  —Heartstrings Reviews

  “How can a review do justice to a book that sweeps you away from the very first page? … Sinclair has managed to mix religion, politics, adventure, science fiction and romance into one of the best reads of the year. A true winner!”

  —Interlude Magaz
ine

  PRAISE FOR FINDERS KEEPERS

  Finalist for 2006 RITA® Award for Best First Book

  Winner of the 2001 Sapphire Award for Best

  Speculative Romance Novel

  Winner of the 2001 PEARL Award for Best Sci-Fi Romance

  “Finders Keepers is romance, but also science fiction in its truest form. Ms. Sinclair creates a complete and fascinating universe.”

  —Romantic Times

  “A riveting, tightly written, edge-of-your-seat tale that pulls the reader in from page one, never letting go until the poignant finish.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  ALSO BY LINNEA SINCLAIR

  Finders Keepers

  Gabriel’s Ghost

  An Accidental Goddess

  Games of Command

  The Down Home Zombie Blues

  Shades of Dark

  Hope’s Folly

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I’m hugely indebted to the following for their patience, input, humor, and support during a difficult time in my life, which included the writing of this book: author Stacey “Apple Cosmo” Kade; author Monette “Attorney Babe” Michaels; reader M. L. “Hit ’em Straight” Helfstein, USNR (Ret.); my editor, Anne “Sparkle Mommy” Groell; and my agent, Kristin “The Rock” Nelson; as well as my Groupie Loopies at the Intergalactic Bar & Grille. And special thanks to wonderful (cat-owned) authors Robin D. Owens, Susan Grant, and Mary Jo Putney. Thank you all for being there when I needed you, for when the words wouldn’t come and the tears wouldn’t stop.

  Thank you also to Dr. Sisco at the Cat Care Clinic (Naples, FL), Doc Ellie Scott and staff at Stringtown Animal Hospital (Grove City, OH), Dr. Lisa Fulton at the MedVet Cancer Center (Columbus, OH), and reader and veterinarian Dr. Earmie Edwards for all your efforts on Daiquiri’s behalf.

  To my beloved angel-cat, Daq. You left much too soon and are always in my heart.

  A big note of appreciation to my last-minute beta readers: Corrina Lawson, Debra Holland, Linda Burke, Melissa Nix, and Arwen Lynch.

  And to my husband, Rob Bernadino, who after almost thirty years not only still finds me amusing but knows when I need to cry—and didn’t hesitate to bring new furry typing assistants into our lives: Chester, Brady, and Jimmy-James.

  AUTHOR’S PLAYLIST

  “Now and Forever”—DJ Lithium

  “Titicaca” (Firestorm remix)—Firestorm & Steve Allen

  “Angel on My Shoulder”—Kaskade

  “Infinity”—Guru Josh Project

  “Move for Me”—Kaskade

  “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most.”

  —Marianne Williamson

  His family was sending one of their corporate star yachts through two major jumpgates—from Sylvadae to the port city of Tal Verdis on Garno—just for him. And that, Devin Guthrie knew as he sat in his spacious glass-walled office on the fifteenth floor of Guthrie Global Systems’s financial headquarters, portended trouble.

  Big trouble.

  Devin nodded casually to his eldest brother’s image on the main deskscreen, deliberately keeping his voice noncommittal, as if the disruption didn’t matter at all. “A Trans-Aldan flight would be cheaper,” he suggested to Jonathan. Even if he went first-class. It would also be slower. That was more than reasonable by Devin’s way of thinking. He was in no hurry to have his life turned upside down.

  But that only deepened his brother’s frown on the large screen.

  “You know better than anyone that the restructuring of the Empire hasn’t hurt our portfolio.” Jonathan was dark-haired and dark-eyed like their father—the indomitable Jonathan Macy “J. M.” Guthrie, who, at almost eighty, was still the undisputed patriarch of Guthrie Global Systems. Jonathan also had J.M.’s intense, narrow-eyed gaze. “Your time is valuable. Additionally, using our own transport is safer. Especially with Philip resurfacing last month.”

  Devin pulled off his silver-rimmed glasses—another thing his family found fault with—and rubbed at the spot between his eyebrows.

  He couldn’t argue the validity of Jonathan’s statement. Privately, the family rejoiced that the second eldest of the Guthrie brothers was alive. But Philip’s resurrection had repercussions. He was now no longer an Imperial admiral but had allied himself with the newly formed Alliance of Independent Republics—“traitor worlds,” according to Imperial First Barrister-turned-Prime Commander Darius Tage. And, in spite of the fact that the Alliance was in the process of being granted “conditional” legitimacy, sources whispered that there was a price on Philip Guthrie’s head.

  Being a Guthrie—one of the oldest, wealthiest, and most established families in the Empire—might no longer be a guarantee of safety from a well-timed accident. And therein rested Devin’s last salvo.

  He slipped his glasses back on. “Actually, traveling by commercial transport would be safer. Tage isn’t going to kill one hundred fifty passengers to get at one of us. But a Guthrie personal yacht malfunctioning at a jumpgate exit or never coming out of jump—”

  “Would be viewed as suspicious and a direct threat, not only to us but to the Rossettis, Petroskis, Helfsteins, and Falkners.” Jonathan ticked off the names of some of the Empire’s more prestigious families on his fingers. “Tage is too smart to make a direct move against us.”

  No, the emperor’s longtime adviser was crafty enough to cover his tracks first—or get someone else to do the dirty work.

  Just as J.M. had Jonathan do his. “Devin …”

  Devin held up one hand as a sign of capitulation, because he could hear his brother’s impatience. “Fine. I’ll check my schedule and call you—”

  “I’ll wait.” Jonathan leaned back in the padded leather chair. A soft golden light danced in small sparkles through the elegant beveled-glass library window behind him, illuminating the hallmark Guthrie intertwined-Gs visible over his left shoulder. Devin’s brother was at the Guthrie estate outside Port Palmero on Sylvadae—a world halfway across Aldan sector from Devin’s offices on Garno. Most GGS offices had the luxury of a secure, near-instantaneous private comm link, which, at moments like this, Devin hated. The more common two-to-three-day communications delay afforded time to think things over and come up with a stronger argument.

  He angled away from the screen where Jonathan’s image waited and tapped up a small hologrid. The data floated in a green-tinged glow. He scrolled through his appointment calendar, noting what projects were of immediate concern and wondering how far he could stretch those that weren’t. He was not looking forward to going to Sylvadae.

  It wasn’t because his current residence on Garno held any special appeal. It was a world known for its casinos, theaters, and restaurants circling the Tal Verdis spaceport, but he wasn’t a gambler, he rarely went to the theater, and whatever fell out of his penthouse residence’s chefmaster unit was fine by him.

  It was just that crunching numbers, massaging financial data, and coding investment probability programs were what Devin did best. He was far more comfortable with data than with people—especially when those people were his parents, his older brothers, and his brothers’ families.

  And especially when those same parents had no qualms about using his eldest brother to force Devin to change his life.

  Not that he hadn’t seen it coming …

  Well, then, get it over with. But he would do it on his terms, his timing. “The quarterly summary for Galenth needs revisions. And the stage six contracts from Baris–Agri are due in tomorrow with the Englarian Church amendments. If those unfold as expected”—and as he was senior analyst on both, there was no reason they shouldn’t—“I’ll be able to leave here by noon, Fourthday.” That gave him three days to firm up the Baris–Agri deal—a project that had been his primary focus for more than two months. He had to be here to make sure these final contract negotiations went smoothly.

  “Delegate the revi
sions and the contracts. The star yacht will be there at half-past six tonight, your time.”

  Half-past six? Devin’s fist clenched out of sight of the deskscreen cam. “But Baris–Agri—”

  “Father advises you to be on it.”

  It wasn’t just the tone of finality in Jonathan’s words. It was that no one—except Philip Guthrie—ever defied J.M.

  “More tea, Mr. Devin? Or perhaps something stronger? Dinner will be ready shortly.”

  Nelessa’s voice pulled Devin’s attention from his microcomp, where nice, friendly, nonjudgmental numbers were keeping him company on his flight to Sylvadae and keeping his mind off the reason behind his trip—and the annoying fact that the Baris–Agri deal would conclude without him. His microcomp was a Rada—a top-of-the-line unit that he’d customized to do even more than function as a pocket comm and datapad. It had voice and holosim keyboard capabilities and could integrate seamlessly into any larger datacomp system. He’d already sent eight pages of notes to his assistants. And gone through three cups of tea since he’d boarded GGS’s corporate yacht, the Triumph.

  The chief attendant from GGS’s private yacht waited with expert patience by Devin’s seat. The dusky-skinned muscular woman was in her early forties, about six years his senior. Her voice was far softer than her appearance; she sometimes doubled as Jonathan’s wife’s bodyguard when Marguerite traveled outside acknowledged “safe” areas in Aldan. Devin didn’t doubt there was an L7 laser pistol secreted somewhere under Nel’s pale-blue GGS uniform jacket.

  Her hands, however, held only a teapot and a linen napkin.

  Devin glanced at his empty teacup on the low table on his right, its thin white porcelain edges banded with pale-blue circles meeting at the intertwined double-G emblem. The same emblem was etched into the double doors of his office on Garno. Where he should be now—and wasn’t. “Tea’s fine, Nel. Thanks.”

  He’d save the hard liquor for after the meeting with his father and brothers.

  Nel refilled his cup, then moved silently back toward the galley just behind the cockpit. The Triumph was smaller than the Prosperity, GGS’s 220-ton yacht, which held twenty passengers in opulent luxury, with ten large sleeping cabins. But the 130-ton ship could still seat ten on a day trip and sleep six on an overnight, not including the crew of three. And currently, Devin was the only passenger.