Hi all–

This is still my Super Pal Week and i am delighted to welcome my friend, Belinda McBride. Best of all, today (Friday) is Belinda’s Birthday!!! And she’s celebrating with us and sharing a bit of her upcoming release from her incredible Uncommon Whore Series. The new book is called Prince of Faith.  Uncommon Whore was the first of Belinda’s books i ever read and i have a special place in my heart for it! So here is Bel with a peek inside the new book–

Coming Soon! An Uncommon Whore 3: The Prince of Faith

I’m so pleased to announce that Loose Id has contracted the third installment of the

Uncommon Whore series! In this story, I’m leaving Helios and Griffin for a  brief time so we can find out the fate of Helios’ cousin Markus Dayspring. If you read the series thus far, you’ll know that the supposedly villainous Markus was left on Warlan to take Helios’ place in the household of the slave owner U’shma. When Helios and Griffin realize the horrible mistake they made, they decided to immediately rescue Markus.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t where they left him.

The Prince of Faith is the story of Markus and his rescuer, Caius. I don’t have a release day yet, but follow my blog, Facebook page or newsletter to stay up to date with the latest news!

And now here’s an unedited excerpt from The Prince of Faith:

Excerpt:

The big, pebble-skinned bastard was tough.

Markus dodged the swing of U’shma’s weapon, grimacing as the improvised flail barely missed his head. He’d already taken several blows and now suffered cracked ribs and nasty bruises. He cursed the Warlan officials who’d searched him earlier; they’d confiscated his boot-knife and spare blaster in their random zeal. He’d watched a heavily armed Griffin Hawke pass through security, drawing barely a glance from the very guards who held Markus for nearly an hour.

But that was just his luck these days.

As a species, the Morgaise were deceptively clumsy in appearance, and their reptilian nature made them sluggish in cold weather. Unfortunately, Warlan was hot and dry, so U’shma had awakened shortly after Markus broke into the house. He might be awkward in appearance, but U’shma moved quickly and was wickedly accurate swinging a fabric tube full of sand. While the big brute had power, he didn’t know the full potential of the simple weapon. But then, he’d probably never learned to cheat like Markus had.

Grimly, Markus forced his gaze away from the spinning weapon and studied the Morgaise’s blunt face, dancing out of his reach until he attacked, the heavy flail lethal with blinding speed. As the missile came down, Markus launched himself at U’shma, aiming for his eyes. He struck; a scream told him he’d scored. Before the creature could recover Markus wrestled the sling from him, slamming its weight into U’shma’s face. With his heavy skin and muscle, the face was one of his few vulnerable spots.

“Where is he?” Markus jumped out of reach and began to swing the weapon slowly, watching as his opponent’s pale eyes followed the looping pattern the sling made.

“I do not know what you mean,” he snarled.

Markus moved slightly and the end of the sling clipped U’shma’s cheek. The Morgaise gasped and staggered back. He began swinging the fabric faster, till it moved at a blur and began to hum hypnotically.

“The slave, U’shma. I’ve been into the ownership records. I know you don’t own him.” He stepped forward, pressing the Morgaise back toward the wall. “Won’t your bosses be interested in knowing he’s spent a full night and morning out of your custody?”

U’shma blinked rapidly and a transparent lid emerged, signaling his fear. Markus grinned cruelly. “What’s the matter, U’shma…scared?”

The Morgaise lunged and Markus danced back lightly, still swinging the weapon, staying out of U’shma’s powerful reach. He pivoted and let the momentum of the flail carry it into a series of brutal blows. U’shma was close to spilling…he knew it in his gut. The big guy wasn’t an owner, he was a lackey, answerable to someone else.

“Tell me, or I’ll find every one of those investors, and I imagine you’ll be out of a job. Permanently.”

He prayed. He…Markus Dayspring, avowed skeptic. So many years searching for Helios Dayspring and now he was so close he could nearly feel his cousin’s presence. He’d searched a tiny, cell-like room and could literally smell Helios…warm and familiar. His eyes blurred with tears. He blinked rapidly, clearing his vision.

U’shma attacked and Markus went low, striking his legs with the improvised flail. He hit again, and yet again, the weapon landing with a sickening thud. The attack was painful, but wouldn’t leave any lasting damage.

“Where is the slave?” He stood, bracing himself as the tube hummed through the air.

A flick of the eyes was all the warning he had that something was amiss. Before he could move, the flail suddenly tore in half and glittering red sand scattered through the air. The fabric gave way to the clean edge of a blade. From the corner of his eye he saw…

Griffin Hawke.

There was a sharp blow to his head, blinding pain and Markus spun, knowing he was going down, knowing he’d been betrayed. He crashed to the floor and through slitted eyes, saw flowing white robes and bare feet. He heard words spoken in a voice so dear and familiar, but he couldn’t understand what the speaker said. Desperately, he fought to hold on, to speak. His lips moved silently. Tears burned his eyes, even as his vision went dim.

Helios!

The pain faded and as the room grew dark, he knew nothing. There was no pain. Only the knowledge that his cousin was alive and with Griffin Hawke. And while he might be a deceptive bastard, Hawke would never betray Helios as he’d just betrayed Markus.

At least that’s what he hoped.

Markus let consciousness slip away and felt nothing as the blackness became complete. He knew nothing again until he woke, naked, bound and staring up into the vengeful gaze of U’shma, the Morgaise.

You can connect with Belinda at her website: www.belindamcbride.com

Her blog: www.belindam.blogspot.com

Her Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Belinda-McBride/49209583129?ref=hl