Kenyon, Sherrilyn - Born of the Fire

Title: Born of the Fire
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Series: Book 1 of the Born series
Pub: iPublish.com
Pub Date: August, 1996
ISBN: 0759550212
Genre:
Time Period:
Setting:
Hero: Nykyrian Quiakides
Heroine: Kiara Biardi

Summary:

Born of Fire

Awakening from a drugged sleep in a cold cell, Kiara finds herself a prisoner of the merciless marauders who threaten her father's planetary kingdom. Miraculously, a rescuer appears, but behind his fearsome mask is the handsome face of a dark avenger whose outlaw touch sets her very soul aflame.

Born of Desire

They call him Nemesis. Once a renegade assassin, now a warrior-soldier sworn to protect the innocent from the ruthless mercenaries throughout the galaxies, he has many enemies. Besieged on every side, he knows he is a danger to the beauty he saves from certain death. But the lovely Kiara stirs a hungry longing in his battle-hardened heart, spurring him into a struggle that could restore his honor and heal the wounds of a beleaguered empire--or tear Kiara from his arms forever....

Excerpt:

    "What are you working on?" she finally asked.
    He growled a low warning in his throat that made her a bit uneasy. "I have a lot of work that needs to be finished. I'm not here to be sociable. I'm here only to protect you."
    Kiara folded her arms around her leg and rested her chin on her knees. She watched his flying fingers, the keys of the terminal clicking beneath them.
    "But since you're here ...."
    His fingers stopped. The sudden silence echoed around her, increasing her discomfort.
    "I just thought you might as well tell me something about yourself. We could end up spending days together, weeks, and I for--"
    "Fine," he snapped, cutting her off.
    Kiara hid her triumphant smile behind her knee, but she was sure her eyes glowed in mischief.
    Nykyrian sat back and defensively crossed his arms over his chest. "If it will solace your mind, I will allow you to ask me eight questions about me. After that, you'll never again ask me another thing about my past, or my friends, and you'll remain quiet and let me finish what I'm doing."
    The sharp, clipped words irked her. She stared at him, trying to think of things that would give her some advantage over him.
    "Okay," she said as she thought of the first one. "What's your surname?"
    "One, Quiakides."
    Surprise widened her eyes. "As in the universally famed and acclaimed Commander Huwin Quiakides of the Intergalactic League of Peacekeepers?"
    He sighed. "Two, yes."
    "Was he your father?"
    She thought she noticed his teeth clench before he answered, "Three, yes."
    Kiara gave an unladylike snort. "That doesn't count. You should have said that when I asked the second question."
    He shrugged in an aggravating manner of disinterest. "Be specific. Anything counts."
    Kiara sat for a minute, thinking over what little information Mira had given her while she had been in the OMG's base. "If he was your father, why did you leave the League?"
    This time, she definitely saw the angry tick in his jaw as his features hardened. "How did you know I was in the League?"
    Kiara gulped at the harsh, deadly tone.
    At that moment, she could easily imagine him tearing someone into pieces and she had no desire for that someone to be either her or Mira. "I just heard it somewhere. It is true, isn't it? You were a League Assassin?"
    "Four, yes."
    Kiara was getting tired of him numbering his answers. "You know, you could try and be a little friendlier."
    "I'm not paid to be nice. I'm paid to kill."

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Comments:

The Born series [not confirmed]

Book 1: Born of the Night
Book 2: Born of Fire (e-book)
Book 3: Paradise City
Book 4. Fire and Ice (reprint in Man of My Dreams)