Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Epilogue
Look me up!
About Leora Gonzales
Miners of Djaromir: Sparx
Book Two of the Miners of Djaromir Series
Leora Gonzales
Copyright © 2020 Leora Gonzales
All rights reserved.
Dedication
I want to dedicate this (like all the others) to my husband. I was lucky enough to find a man who is super smart, loving, hilarious and also diabolical. When I said that I wanted to write but had no computer, I had no idea he was going to surprise me with a new laptop. There went my list of excuses. Touché, Richard. Touché.
Prologue
Welcome, Lucy!
Congratulations on being one of ten volunteers selected for the first mate exchange with Djaromir!
Inside you will find:
● A booklet on the local culture of Djaromir and the planet they inhabit.
● What to expect if you are selected as a Djaromir mate.
● Our promise to you regarding your safety.
● FAQ sheet.
The first two weeks of your volunteer period will be spent on board Phaeton One as our new allies assist in transporting you to exciting new possibilities! You will receive a free health screening and also be fitted with a wristband upon arrival. This band is for your safety and must be worn at all times. *Refusal to wear the band and/or tampering with the device will result in your expulsion from the program without stipend.
A liaison will be present to assist with any additional questions.
Congratulations and good luck.
Jane Powell
Special Liaison, Djaromir Division
Bridal Intake Center
Austin, TX
Chapter One
“How many do you think he will let us have?” Matrix asked, his words accompanied by clouds of white as his breath hit the frigid air. “His message didn’t give us a firm number, but I expect distribution to be fair.”
“I do not know, Matrix.” Sparx shook his head. The hood of his cloak hid the fact that he’d rolled his eyes at his friend and fellow warlord. “You need to prepare yourself for the possibility that K’hor may not want to distribute this shipment like he has the others. This isn’t a shipment of spices or medication.”
“Hey, you know as well as I do that our cities will not last long with the few remaining females amongst our numbers.” Holding an arm out, Matrix halted Sparx in his tracks as they walked beside their men on the arduous trek to Hamuir. “Fyeir and Gunninng deserve their share of Hamuir’s bounty.”
Sparx nodded with agreement on that point of his friend’s argument. “We still need to be mindful that this isn’t the normal shipment of supplies we’re splitting amongst the cities. These are women. Human women, kidnapped and sold to the highest bidder—”
“And rescued by us…” Matrix interrupted.
“Rescued by K’hor,” Sparx pointed out, getting tired of the discussion. It had been going on since their troops had met and joined together for the final trek to the underground city of Hamuir together.
Considering the threats around them, Sparx was more concerned with the dangers on Djaromir than the fate of the rescued women.
At least for now.
He would be lying to say he wasn’t as concerned as Matrix over the females and how they’d be shared among the Djaromir cities. As one of the three warlords on Djaromir, the fate of their people rested in his hands. Nevertheless, he chose to focus upon their current environment than dwell on such worries. Neither he nor any of his men would receive brides, if he were to give way to distraction. He had to consider where they were and what may be hunting them from moment to moment.
Although they’d moved into the colder part of their journey as they neared the gates of Hamuir, threats to their safety remained, not fully dissipated. The winged meat eaters that they’d fought earlier in their journey were unable to follow them into the freezing temperatures that now surrounded them—thankfully—but that didn’t mean they were clear of worries.
Along with the large byorin that hunted the tundra, they had to worry about those who had not fared so well during the first part of their trek. Matrix and his troop of miners had already had one injury occur before his men had joined up with them. The man was still breathing and walking, but they couldn’t be sure for how long. The treidl’s stinger had stabbed deep enough that they couldn’t fully remove it. For the moment, Djester still moved steadily, albeit a little slower than usual, which gave Sparx hope that they’d reach the healers of Hamuir before it was too late.
“Not much farther.” Matrix held up his arm and signaled an increase in pace to the men who were following behind. “Come on, Sparx. When we received the invitation for the auction, you were not against buying the women. I am surprised you’re not more concerned over where the brides will end up.”
Sparx winced at the reminder of his past foolishness. “I didn’t want to buy them as slaves. I simply thought we would be doing them a favor by saving them from the others that wanted to buy them as slaves,” he argued, the words sounding weak even to his own ears.
The words were true, although not necessarily the whole picture.
As the warlord of Fyeir, the people he ruled were his main concern. He’d wanted them to have a future, and when the opportunity had come up, it had been all too tempting. A chance at a future for his people, for his planet. They’d surpassed the point of desperation long ago, and he was not ashamed to say that he’d do anything for his people.
Just short of buying them as slaves, that is.
Even now that word left a sour taste in his mouth. He hadn’t considered them that. Instead, he thought of them as chances. Chances in the form of women they would “save” from the real bad
