Last month got away from me a bit, but we do have candles! I'm going to see if I can insert a little video below 💖🕯️ I also just have to give a big shoutout to ROAM Homegrown. They came out A-mazing, and I'm honestly blown away by the quality and design. They're 100% soy, too, with no parabens, phthalates, or paraffins, shipped at no charge for paying patrons. And of course, they smell incredible lol.
In other news, book 4 (Dawn), Roz & Xaphan's story is officially a little over 50% written. I included our next excerpt below for those who would like. But yeah, it'll be a busy next few days here with Easter and the little one home for spring break next week. I plan to post another check-in, though, more toward the end of the month. I hope everyone has a wonderful week❣️
Happy Spring and happy reading💮📚
Before the Dawn (Roz & Xaphan) Excerpt
Shit. Sanchez was right…he was totally enjoying this.
It was the only warning she got before a swipe from his massive hand barely missed her face. Roz jumped back, feeling the air move mere inches from her skin, then she bounced on her toes, dodging his next two attempts. She grunted, her heart pumping, but something told her he wasn’t really trying.
He was playing with her; Roz gritted her teeth.
Determined to match him and knowing her punches would be useless, she aimed another powerful kick at his jaw. Faster than she could blink, Xaphan caught it midair, and she stumbled. He jerked her toward him, one hand engulfing her foot.
Pushing her panic down, Roz reacted quickly and used the momentum to swing herself up and onto his shoulders. She squeezed her thighs around his thick neck from behind, throwing her weight to the side in an attempt to knock him off balance, but the nasty Askari slammed them back into the wall, forcing the breath right out of her.
Roz tightened her legs as she tried with all her might to weaken him in any way she possibly could, but it was another failed maneuver. Her lungs burned for air. It was also painfully obvious she was more spent by her efforts than he seemed to be, but she refused to give up! She would not cede this fight.
Roz tightened her legs as she tried with all her might to weaken him in any way she possibly could, but it was another failed maneuver. Her lungs burned for air. It was also painfully obvious she was more spent by her efforts than he seemed to be, but she refused to give up! She would not cede this fight.
She felt grasping along her back. Lashing out, she hit his hands out of the way before he could take hold of her, then plunged her fingers into his dreads to pull hard. Because hell, no, she was not above fighting dirty against someone so much stronger and deadlier than she.
A mighty snarl vibrated her body before Xaphan ripped her clean off of him. Roz winced when sharp claws scraped her scalp and then she was against the wall again, staring up at him with her head forced back. Big Nasty’s dreads were now huge, and she had to wonder: just how sensitive were they?
Xaphan hissed fiercely, bringing her attention back. He’d lodged a knee against her groin, effectively pinning her where she was, and Roz growled her frustration. She stared at his bloodied lip again, happy to at least have given him that much.
They were both breathing hard—though her a lot harder than him, she noted—and then his alien tongue darted out to lick the area a second time. The scarred Askari’s no-good gaze dropped to her mouth. In one fell swoop, he suddenly hooked a claw from his free hand inside her full bottom lip. Shock hit Roz hard.
What the— She couldn’t believe he was trying to fishhook her! Or at least, that’s what she thought at first.
She felt pressure, followed by a slight burning when his claw punctured the sensitive skin there. Xaphan snapped his shark-like teeth, slowly smeared the blood from her downturned lip along his finger like a psychopath—then he pushed the damn digit forward into her mouth.
Roz’s eyes popped, and she finally made a noise of indignation. A deep sound had begun to emanate from his chest, but she didn't even care. She bit down. Hard.
Roz felt the jerk of his body against hers. She also tasted blood but couldn’t be sure if she’d broken his rough, rubbery skin or if it was still hers from his finger. Either way, the digit was torn from her mouth.
Xaphan hissed, spun her against the wall, and crowded her body, pushing firmly into her from behind. He clicked and hissed again over her ear. Roz swore and tried to use her hips to push him back, struggling to gain ground because now he was freaking her out. Especially as she felt him breathe deeply and start to sniff her.
Dammit, but he was going to make her cede this fight.
She heard a rolling click and a softer snap of his teeth, and that’s when she felt it...something strange against her backside. Roz froze. She frowned. There it was again, moving, seeking...
The fuck?
It sent her panic spilling.
“Get off me—GET OFF!!”
There was a hiss and a grating growl, but in an instant, he released her. Roz spun on him.
“What the hell was that?!”
Before the Dawn, by J.M. Link
Copyright 2026, J.M. Link
All rights reserved.
More available on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/JMLink
