I hear the sharp whip of air as a bamboo pole cuts through the darkness, headed toward my face. She has a nasty right hook, I’ll give you that.” She’s more like a pissed-off kangaroo in a top hat. “And I was tired from taking the guy out like five seconds earlier.” “How am I supposed to just punch a girl?” Ethan asks. I can’t see him moving, but I can feel him, as if we’re connected by a million invisible threads. My voice is flat, free from emotion, and my words are empty. “Oh, yes, because it isn’t like she turned around and kicked the crap out of you, too.” I’m mimicking his movements now. It seems like a sound strategy, so I jump on board. I know he’s trying to draw them out, to bring the fight to him. Even without being able to see him, I can sense him moving, beginning to circle counterclockwise.

“All I’m saying is, maybe you need the extra practice,” Ethan says, his tone mocking. As if reading my mind, Ethan picks up the conversation we were having earlier. Knowing my attackers are well paid for their ability to move in silence, there is little hope that they will give themselves away. So I listen, honing my senses until I catch the sound of Ethan taking a small step forward, away from me. Months of training have taught me exactly what happens when I turn my back to the darkness. The urge to turn around is strong, though I know better. The leather straps holding up my suede harness dig into the skin of my shoulders, but the ache only sharpens my focus. I strain, listening, waiting for the next wave of attack. I can feel the warmth of Ethan’s body radiating like a tuning fork against my back. My breath comes in short, shallow bursts. Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble Excerpt Now armed with the truth of who they were, Lex and Ember must work together to save the future before the battle for time destroys them once again. When Lex accepts a mission that lands him deep within the heart of the Telsa Institute, he meets Ember, and the past that was stolen from them comes flooding back. Lex and Ember-two time travelers with no memories of their lives before being recruited into the time war-are torn between the factions. Two opposing factions of time travelers vie for control of the future in this thrilling steampunk series opener dubbed “Interesting” and “Unexpected” – Kirkus Reviews.

Extracted by Sherry D. Ficklin