Book Three of the Crimson Bane Battles

When explosions at the Standoff Point separate Ian and Skorpe, one is left with a concussion and the other is forced to take command of a small group and flee north.

The two lovers vow to find one another a second time, but there’s only one problem: Regina, Ian’s old fiancée, is determined to mend fences and make him hers again.

Stuck in the mountains, and regardless of the Bane spreading across the countryside, Ian begins a long trek, making his way back to the man he loves. However, Skorpe has a problem, too—a very handsome one. Can Ian and Skorpe’s love survive distance and temptation?


Genre: Paranormal, erotic romance, sci-fi, gay, adventure, end of the world

Heat level: 2
Word count – 21k

Cover art by Fiona Jayde





~Excerpt~

Finally, he asked, “So, do you have any idea how we can protect ourselves from the mutated Bane?”

Shrugging, Regina stretched her legs out in front of her and kicked off her sneakers. “I guess the medical and science teams will have to collaborate on methods of detecting these things.”

“How long will it take for them to come up with something to do that?”

“I don’t know,” she replied, her tone grave. “We might not be able to come up with anything at all. We know very little about the mutations’ anatomy or their abilities. Total physicals will be necessary, but who knows if a Convert can hide their abnormalities?”

“Oh, this just gets better and better.”

“Look, the only things we can do are”—she held one hand up and ticked off her fingers—“to be extremely careful, question everything and everyone, and to watch for anything that seems even slightly suspicious.”

“Since you’re a pro at all that, you shouldn’t have a problem surviving.” The moment the words left Ian’s mouth, he winced. He hadn’t meant to voice his thoughts or for them to sound so mean. “Regina, I—”

She burst out laughing. “Don’t worry, Ian. Your honesty is one of the things I’ve always loved about you. Besides, you’re right. My suspicious nature will probably be one of my best survival assets.”

Their gazes met across the cargo hold. A pang of regret pierced Ian. Things might’ve been different if Regina hadn’t been so neurotic or unpredictable, her love of materialistic things overriding everything else during their long relationship. He loved Skorpe—there was no doubt about that—but regardless of his volatile love affair with Regina, a part of his heart still softened whenever he looked at her.

“Is there any chance you’ll leave Skorpe and take me back?” she asked abruptly.

He blinked, his thoughts scattering. Leave it to Regina to cut to the core of a matter.

“No.” He shook his head. “I love him, Regi, and we’re life partners now.”

A frown marred her pretty features. “I just don’t get it. How can you bang a dude?”

His eyebrows rose, and his mouth dropped open. Finally, he found his voice again. “Can’t we talk about something else?”

“I’m just trying to understand what made you switch sides.”

“I didn’t switch sides,” he protested. “I fell in love.”

“With a dude.”

Ian groaned and swiped one hand over his face. “This conversation is pointless.”

“Feminine wiles can be very difficult to fight off.”

“So can feminine teeth and claws.”





Author Bio:

Azura Ice writes several subgenres of romance, which includes but is not limited to het, ménage, m/m and can be set in contemporary times or even in a far away world or another dimension. Azura's muse leads her by the hand, and her fingers do the light-speed typing.

Who is Azura Ice? She's a full-time author who is owned by two crazy felines of tabby descent (although they swear they're of Egyptian lineage). Azura writes in an attic study that overlooks a beautiful valley, and enjoys her husband's company when he's permitted to enter her domain. However, if he brings offerings of coffee and an occasional chocolaty treat, she's inclined to let him in her office more often.

Azura takes her writing seriously, so she doesn't hang out on group loops (she tries to avoid shiny object syndrome), but if you'd like to contact her, interview her, etc., you can reach her at bicknellbrown@sbcglobal.net, visit her at http://ablueice.wordpress.com, or you can visit her other pen name sites at www.FaithBicknell.com and www.MollyDiamond.com. Talk with her at www.Facebook.com/faithbicknellbrown and her fan page www.Facebook.com/F.L.Bicknell