Title: Taken by the Pikosa Warlord
A Barbarian SciFi Romance
Series: Xiveri Mates #7
Author: Elizabeth Stephens
Genre: Barbarian Warlord/Sci-Fi Alien Romance
Release Date: August 31, 2021
BLURB
Halima
I’m wrenched from a five thousand year sleep into a new world. It was supposed to be uninhabited. Humans were supposed to have died off. Those of us preserved in the stasis tanks were supposed to rebuild.
But there were survivors. And now those survivors have formed factions. The leading tribes enslave those weaker and language keeps them apart.
Funny, because in my past life I was the interpreter and I intend to bridge the gaps so that when we escape, we do it together. But I have to get past the warlord watching me first.
Ero
Communication between tribes is unheard of. Forbidden. A death sentence. I should kill the little slave that dares defy this edict.
But the signs suggest something unthinkable. That this little creature is mine.
I need to find a way to get rid of her before she dismantles everything, escapes, liberates slaves, brings warring tribes to my doorstep…but to do that, I’ll have rid myself of this pesky little thing called want.
She makes me want her.
Taken by the Pikosa Warlord is a barbarian SciFi romance that is a complete standalone within the Xiveri Mates series. It features a dark, savage warlord and the brilliant interpreter who defies him, action, steam and a guaranteed HEA.
PURCHASE LINKS
EXCERPT
Ero hisses, “Halima.”
“Halima.” I blink and see waves, but they don’t belong to the river. They belong to the ocean. I look up and a man is smiling at me. He has my eyes and my stubborn chin, at least, that’s what my mother tells me. I’m crying but he’s chuckling lightly as he reaches forward and pulls the plastic bag out of my hand.
I’d been devastated to see so much trash on the beach, but my father just grins gently and says, “It resists. That’s how the ocean survives, despite all the harm we do to it. It resists, remaining unbroken. And though it is unbroken by us, it can break us so easily. There are too many droplets and, when they gather, they are capable of magnificent violence. Its calm now is just an illusion so be careful, habibty, with the ocean.
“Respect it, but know that if it can remain unbroken by us, then you should not be broken by this.” He holds up the plastic bag and stuffs it into his pocket. “Now come. Let’s catch up to your mother, aunt and uncle, and all your cousins. The family is waiting.”
“Halima.” I look up. Ero is frowning at me and the entire room falls away.
I waver as I come out of the dream and my slick leather sandal slips on a couple of the rocks. I fall back onto my butt, quickly pulling my toes out of the stream. When I look up, Ero is perched forward on the edge of his seat, veins in his forehead popping proudly. I can see his tension even from here. He opens his mouth, but doesn’t say anything, so I use the opportunity.
“You shouldn’t have done that to Haddock. It was my betrayal. I wanted you to sleep, not to die. I don’t want anyone to die.”
Leaning his elbows onto his knees, he sneers, “It is a bit late for that now, don’t you think?”
Elizabeth Stephens writes romance of the SciFi, paranormal and suspenseful varieties. Her favorite trope is enemies-to-lovers and she loves to world-build so much so that she sometimes gets lost in places that don't exist.
One year into her author journey, she's been shocked to see her books listed among Amazon's bestsellers in their categories. Still, her favorite pieces of fanmail are from BIPOC women expressing surprise and gratitude that they've found an author who looks like them and (does her very best!) to write books that make them feel included.
Other than writing, Elizabeth also likes to throw very exciting-looking pottery on her balcony in Berlin where she lives with her loving husband (who bought her said pottery wheel for her last birthday) and her doggo, King Louis. Though she's lived over half her life abroad, she still calls Seattle home.
To find out more about her projects and upcoming releases visit her website at booksbyelizabeth.com.
