Exclusive excerpt: 'Shards of Hope' by Nalini Singh

HEA is thrilled to share the continuation of a scene from Nalini Singh's latest Psy/Changeling book, Shards of Hope, arriving next week. To read the first part of the scene, hop on over to The Rock Stars of Romance blog (which is also featuring an awesome giveaway), then head back here to finish reading.

Here's the blurb about Shards of Hope (courtesy of Berkley):

The "smoldering heat, epic romance, and awesome action" of Nalini Singh's New York Times bestselling series continues as two Arrows find themselves caught in a chilling conspiracy that spans all three races…

Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape. But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization. Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn't welcome outsiders.

And they must survive. A shadowy enemy has put a target on the back of the Arrow squad, an enemy that cannot be permitted to succeed in its deadly campaign. Aden will cross any line to keep his people safe for this new future, where even an assassin might have hope of a life beyond blood and death and pain. Zaira has no such hope. She knows she's too damaged to return from the abyss. Her driving goal is to protect Aden, protect the only person who has ever come back for her no matter what. This time, even Aden's passionate determination may not be enough—because the emotionless chill of Silence existed for a reason. For the violent, and the insane, and the irreparably broken…like Zaira.

EXCERPT (continued from The Rock Stars of Romance blog)

"I'll challenge your leadership the instant we're out of here," she threatened, then jumped onto his back, locking her legs around his waist and sliding her arms up under his own to clamp over his shoulders.

She knew she was comparatively light, probably weighed around half of Aden's body weight, but she also carried the pack, and he was walking across a river in the dark on stones that weren't exactly meant to be used as steps. Focusing only on staying as relaxed as possible, so as not to throw him off, she breathed in the chilly air and thought about all the ways she would torture those who had taken her and Aden.

The guards had just been the brawn. Someone else was behind this.

Aden stepped onto the first stone, his muscles flexing against her as he maintained his precarious balance. A second step. A third.

Water frothed around the rocks, the river's passage rushing thunder around them.

Aden's body dipped and she held on though her training told her to let go so he'd have a better chance of survival. She knew Aden. He'd come for her again. He'd dive into that dangerous water in a stupid, irrational, un-Silent decision and he'd come for her. So she'd stay with him as long as possible, until there was no other option and even he would agree with her.

Only she wasn't sure he ever would.

He really was a very bad leader in that respect—and it was why his Arrows gave him their unswerving dedication. All of them rejects from the world, from their families. No one else had ever come for them, ever would. Silence or not, it mattered that Aden would. Perhaps that exposed a flaw in the heart of the Protocol and perhaps it was simply a sign that even Arrows had a soul.

Halfway across the river and she could hear shouts that indicated their pursuers were heading to the ridge she and Aden had slid down. "I estimate they'll see us in another two minutes."

Aden didn't answer, but she knew he'd heard.

Four more stones, the other side starting to appear closer, but then Aden's foot slipped. Zaira would've released him and chanced the water except that he locked one hand around her ankle. A silent statement that if they went, they'd go together. Irrational, she thought again as they both almost fell in before he righted himself.

Two more stones.

The sounds so close now, flickers of light flashing on the ridge when she glanced over her shoulder.

Aden slipped and slammed down to his knees ...

Read chapters one and two from Shards of Hope and find out more about Nalini at www.nalinisingh.com.