Arnia's Shepherd

Published by: eXtasy Books

Author : Gabriella Bradley

ISBN :978-1-4874-4312-2

Page :192

Word Count :56000

Publication Date :2025-04-25

Series : #

Heat Level :

Available Formats :

Category : Science Fiction Romance , Fantasy , What's New

BrandsExtasy Books
Product Code: 978-1-4874-4312-2

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In the dystopian world of 2653, Arnia Powell, a police officer in Vancouver, discovers a shocking truth about her past.

Arnia receives a letter written by her deceased mother that reveals that she was not her mother’s biological child, but a foundling discovered as a newborn in a hollow tree in Oregon’s Valley of the Giants, wearing only a mysterious golden pendant around her neck.

When she is assigned a new partner, Shepherd Daniels, she is surprised to find that he shares a remarkably similar story. Shep was also found as a newborn in a hollow tree in the same forest, wearing an identical pendant.

Human. Alien. Hybrid.

Arnia and Shep’s journey to uncover their past leads them on a collision course with destiny, where the future of two worlds rests on their shoulders.

In a blur of movement, Shep intervened—and something shifted. The moment one of the men’s fists connected with Shep’s jaw, the air itself seemed to charge. The chain around her neck vibrated eerily and felt unusually warm.

His eyes…

They glowed…

A molten, fiery orange…

She blinked, her heart pounding. Had she imagined it?

He tore the men apart and sent them flying into different directions, his strength unnerving. There was no hesitation. Just raw, unrelenting power.

Arnia’s heart pounded as she gazed at Shep’s face while he dealt with the three men. His eyes glowed, but the glow disappeared once he separated the guys. She shook her head, trying to make sense of what she’d just witnessed. He was much stronger than what he’d displayed before at the shooting incident…

And his eyes…

It had not been her imagination.

They had glowed.

Arnia swallowed hard, her breath ragged. Whatever she’d just seen, it wasn’t normal. And she needed to find out exactly who Shepherd Daniels really was.

Was this what the captain was talking about? For now, there was no way she was going to report the strange incident. Tucking it away for the moment, she joined him in warning the men. They were quite inebriated.

“What do we do? Take them in?” Shep said close to her ear.

Cologne… He must have used aftershave after he’d shaved. It smelled fresh, almost intoxicatingly so. “Let’s see if any of them are driving. If so, we’ll take the keys. They can pick them up at the station tomorrow. I don’t think the guys are drunk enough to throw them in the tank.”

“Sure we shouldn’t throw them in the tank anyway? They’ll be back at it soon as we leave,” Shep said.

“Which one of you ladies is Susan?” Arnia called out to the women.

A young woman with spiked green hair and scantily dressed stepped forward. “That’s me.”

“Any of these guys drive here?”

Susan shook her head. “Can’t afford a car. We walked.”

“Are you telling me the truth?” But Arnia knew that she was… The nightclub was a dive, a place for homeless troublemakers to hang out.

“No cars, Officer. I promise,” Susan said.

“Okay. We’re letting you off easy this time, but watch it. We’ll be back to check on you lot,” she warned the men who stood sheepishly waiting.

“You’re too soft, Arnia,” Shep told her as she pulled away from the nightclub.

“Maybe. The world is already harsh enough without making it worse.” She drove silently for a bit, her mind on what had just happened, until she came to a quiet alley almost clear of homeless people. She pulled into it and parked.

“What are you doing?” Shep asked.

“I need to talk to you.” She unclasped her belt and turned to face him. “What happened back there?”

“Arnia, you’re not making any sense. You know what happened.”

“Bullshit. You displayed strength unlike anything I’ve ever seen. And your eyes glowed.”

He gave her a lopsided grin. “You told me you have books. You’ve read too many fantasy stories.”

“Don’t screw with me, Shep. I know what I saw. You’d better tell me, or I’ll have no choice but to talk to the captain. Are you some kind of augmented super-soldier? I know that ever since the alien invasion, scientists have been experimenting, creating human-looking androids capable of fighting the aliens should they ever return. I’ve seen pictures of them. They look uncannily real.”

“I’m not an android.”

Well…damn. He’s almost too perfect for a normal guy… His body is flawless and chiseled to perfection… Did they really discover how to make androids that are almost like humans? But why would he be working as an ordinary cop? His skin feels real. And he grows a beard and all. He’s lying about something. There is something not natural about Shepherd Daniels.

“I’m going to be honest with you, Shep. I expect you to be just as honest with me. Captain Schmidt asked me to watch for anything strange I notice about you or your behavior. It appears that the captain of the Langley precinct warned Schmidt that something is off about you.”

He was quiet for a bit, then gazed into her eyes. “I’ll be as honest with you as I can. But not here. Not right now. Can you wait until after our shift?”

“I suppose.”

“Please don’t tell the captain anything.”

“I’ll wait to decide that until after we’ve talked.”