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About Gauntlet by C.L. Denault
Title: Gauntlet
Author: C.L. Denault
Series: The Prodigy Chronicles #3
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction Romance
Half butterfly, half tiger. All deadly weapon. Game on.
In 2160, humanity is divided. The ruling class of prodigies dictates law and order for all, while normals fight to survive. Only the Councils in charge of advanced Core cities can decide the fate of a traitor.
A life of luxury is Willow Kent’s destiny. As long as she plays within the boundaries of the Core’s game, she can have anything she wants. Anything except for her friend Kane to avoid execution. Driven by guilt, she negotiates a secret Meta-X exchange to free him. But when a new threat emerges—one even her rare skill level cannot withstand—the stakes become dangerously high. To save Kane, she must navigate the slippery political terrain that surrounds her House, her mysterious Guardian, and the corrupt, unforgiving Council.
The most lethal terrain, however, lurks inside her own mind. Can she overcome her skillset before its savage intentions spiral out of control?
Gauntlet is the third book in The Prodigy Chronicles, a Hunger Games meets X-Men dystopian romance series about a young girl struggling to control her immense powers and find her place in a city filled with enemies.
Excerpt from Gauntlet
© 2021
C.L. Denault
Silence hung between us. Inside my belly, the tiger looked back and forth, gauging our unspoken feelings. She knew mine. All she got from Reece was a sense of conflict. The turmoil inside his cage baffled us both. For someone so confident, he seemed at a loss.
Commander and man, she whispered.
Well, he couldn’t be both. Not on this. He could choose duty and back Kristoffe, or he could be the man who stood by me. I would love him either way. But this was my life. I wanted a say in how to live it.
“I agree,” he said at last.
I turned to look at him. “You do?”
“Yes, because you’re right.” He spoke quietly, with a pensive tone I hadn’t heard before. “I knew the moment I saw him in the penthouse that it meant trouble. He is a threat to both of us.”
“Why would Morry hire someone like that?”
He paused before answering. “I’m sure she has her reasons.”
“That’s not good enough,” I said. Her reasons meant nothing to me, especially since I was the one suffering for them. “He’s intolerable, Reece. I can’t take any more.”
“Let me deal with him tonight. I’ll see what I can find out and will have a talk with Fenn. He’s not thrilled with Kris right now and disapproves of his methods.” Reece smiled encouragingly. “Perhaps we can come up with a solution.”
I tried to smile back, but it felt wooden. He didn’t know that I already had a solution. One that, if successful, would be a hundred percent foolproof and keep Kristoffe from making my life miserable.
You’ll be miserable anyway.
No, I won’t.
Leaving Reece will break you.
That’s ridiculous.
He’s your destiny.
I trembled briefly before thrusting her from my thoughts. She was being dramatic. Love didn’t rule my heart, nor did it choose for me. My destiny was of my own making.
“Anything you can do,” I said, “I’d appreciate.”
“Consider it done.” Rising, he tucked Ollie in beside me, and I took advantage of his closeness by wrapping my arms around his neck. I sighed as I drew him close for a hug.
“Willow,” he laughed. “I need to go.”
“A moment longer.” Clinging to him, I soaked in the heat radiating from his body. My lips twitched when he snuggled his face into my neck. His arm snaked around me, holding me tight. “Just what I needed.”
Reece smiled against my skin. “You’re playing with fire.”
I didn’t care. After Kristoffe’s abrupt violent streak, having Reece this close felt like heaven. He was warm and strong and safe. Everything I’d ever wanted. I squeezed him hard before easing back, my hands on his face, my eyes staring into his.
“Kiss me goodnight,” I breathed.
One corner of his mouth quirked. “I already did.”
“Not properly.”
His smile faded, and my heart throbbed when his arm tightened around me. Easing onto the bed, he pulled us up together, bringing me to his chest. His fingers slid gently into my hair. He leaned close, head slanted, lips hovering just over mine.
My breath stopped.
“Properly?” he whispered.
I nodded, waiting.
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About C.L. Denault
C.L. Denault is a speculative fiction writer who loves dreaming up tales of adventure and intrigue. A former systems analyst, she gave up her nerdy code-writing skills to care for her family (including a son with special needs) and currently lives among the vast stretches of cornfields in Illinois.
Writing and working out are her biggest passions, along with coffee and sci-fi. When she’s not hanging out with her husband and kids, she can usually be found at a library or tucked away in the shadowy corner of a hip coffeehouse. She’s also been glimpsed sneaking into her garage, late at night, to work on her time machine.
She enjoys connecting with people—especially those from other planets, nearby dimensions, and the future. To find her, just visit her website or social media pages. Or use a Stargate. Whichever is easiest.
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