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Guardians of the Pattern #0.5
Facing the Mirror
Special Agent Cameron Asada has spent four years deep undercover in an attempt to deal a death blow to the Sapphire Guild, the largest drug cartel on Alpha. The things he's done in the name of his mission weigh heavily on his soul, and Cam is reaching the point where he's not sure he recognizes the man he sees in the mirror anymore.
Things come to a head when Cam finally gets the break he's been waiting for: an invitation to work for the boss himself as a psionic interrogator. While working at the boss's estate, Cam meets Miko, a powerful psion trapped behind a wall of silence. It doesn't take long for Cam to realize that Miko is a slave, handed around to the boss's associates as a reward for a job well done.
Miko's plight tugs at Cam's heartstrings, forcing Cam to examine just how many lines he's willing to cross in the name of serving the greater good. Will Cam risk his life and his career to help Miko? Or is the trail of broken minds and bodies he's left in his wake worth the possibility of victory over the Guild?
Content warning: This story contains sexually explicit material and describes sexual relations between men.
Things come to a head when Cam finally gets the break he's been waiting for: an invitation to work for the boss himself as a psionic interrogator. While working at the boss's estate, Cam meets Miko, a powerful psion trapped behind a wall of silence. It doesn't take long for Cam to realize that Miko is a slave, handed around to the boss's associates as a reward for a job well done.
Miko's plight tugs at Cam's heartstrings, forcing Cam to examine just how many lines he's willing to cross in the name of serving the greater good. Will Cam risk his life and his career to help Miko? Or is the trail of broken minds and bodies he's left in his wake worth the possibility of victory over the Guild?
Content warning: This story contains sexually explicit material and describes sexual relations between men.
53 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2013
7 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Jaye McKenna
24 books132 followersJaye McKenna was born a Brit and was dragged, kicking and screaming, across the Pond at an age when such vehement protest was doomed to be misinterpreted as a “paddy”. She grew up near a sumac forest in Minnesota and spent most of her teen years torturing her parents with her electric guitar and her dark poetry. She was punk before it was cool and a grown-up long before she was ready. Jaye writes fantasy and science fiction stories about hot guys who have the hots for each other. She enjoys making them work darn hard for their happy endings, which might explain why she never gets invited to their parties.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 11, 2018
4.5 stars
A well-written free short that acts as a prologue or prequel to the Guardians of the Pattern series. This introduces many interesting characters who are key players in a series which I enjoyed. When I first read this short, I hadn't explored this author much or the rest of the series. Months later, after reading other books and finally picking up book #1 of this series, I found myself compelled to go back and read this again. Now that I wasn't expecting it to be a complete romance in itself, I came away with a much different feel for the story. Read alone, I rated this as a 4 star story and wrote this: "I was most intrigued by Draven and Miko and would like to learn more about them. This particular short story wasn't actually a romance and was quite dark. But intriguing."
After reading book one and meeting Cameron and Miko again under different circumstances, I have a better understanding and insight that lends an extra depth to the story. I re-read it specifically seeking to refresh that background, of these two. What I hadn't expected was how much more I noticed than on the first read... and how very, very much I need to read more about the mysterious Draven.
This isn't a romance and it isn’t a sweet story. Its dark and there is non-con. But it is a tightly woven, intense short story with excellent characterization, mystery, action and world-building. Rare to see a short capture all that so well.
A well-written free short that acts as a prologue or prequel to the Guardians of the Pattern series. This introduces many interesting characters who are key players in a series which I enjoyed. When I first read this short, I hadn't explored this author much or the rest of the series. Months later, after reading other books and finally picking up book #1 of this series, I found myself compelled to go back and read this again. Now that I wasn't expecting it to be a complete romance in itself, I came away with a much different feel for the story. Read alone, I rated this as a 4 star story and wrote this: "I was most intrigued by Draven and Miko and would like to learn more about them. This particular short story wasn't actually a romance and was quite dark. But intriguing."
After reading book one and meeting Cameron and Miko again under different circumstances, I have a better understanding and insight that lends an extra depth to the story. I re-read it specifically seeking to refresh that background, of these two. What I hadn't expected was how much more I noticed than on the first read... and how very, very much I need to read more about the mysterious Draven.
This isn't a romance and it isn’t a sweet story. Its dark and there is non-con. But it is a tightly woven, intense short story with excellent characterization, mystery, action and world-building. Rare to see a short capture all that so well.
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April 28, 2016This is now available free on Smashwords, All Romance, and Amazon
August 6, 2014
I just finish this book and I can't get out from my mouth a very bitter taste of sorrow and disgust... No, not because of the book itself, it's a 5 stars... It's because of the theme, and the plot.
Cameron Asada, undercover agent fighting against drug lords, or Cameron Verga, important tool, worker of the most feared drug lord?
That's the protagonist... Who he is facing in the mirror? After 4 years doing the most illegal works how can the man the different from the beast? The beast that enter in men minds, find their most hidden secrets... All done to help a drug lord to be stronger. What can make Verga, the beast, be Asada the man again?
Don't read it if you have low tolerance to darkness and noncon scenes. It's not a romance, it's not a sweet story... It's dark, cruel... Magnificent. I loved it, and even now, after I finish it, I'm still thinking about them. The protagonist and some secondary characters I can named (I refuse to spoil anything about the story)... And I believe I will keep thinking for a while.
5 stars
Cameron Asada, undercover agent fighting against drug lords, or Cameron Verga, important tool, worker of the most feared drug lord?
That's the protagonist... Who he is facing in the mirror? After 4 years doing the most illegal works how can the man the different from the beast? The beast that enter in men minds, find their most hidden secrets... All done to help a drug lord to be stronger. What can make Verga, the beast, be Asada the man again?
Don't read it if you have low tolerance to darkness and noncon scenes. It's not a romance, it's not a sweet story... It's dark, cruel... Magnificent. I loved it, and even now, after I finish it, I'm still thinking about them. The protagonist and some secondary characters I can named (I refuse to spoil anything about the story)... And I believe I will keep thinking for a while.
5 stars
January 7, 2020
Damn. Now that's how you write a prequel that has a reader chomping at the bit to read more.
(Also, I reallllllly need to go through all my thumb, microSD and external drives because evidentally I've had most of this series just waiting for me! Kicking myself so hard right now.)
(Also, I reallllllly need to go through all my thumb, microSD and external drives because evidentally I've had most of this series just waiting for me! Kicking myself so hard right now.)
November 24, 2013
(This is currently free on Smashwords, go grab it!)
Why, oh why, was this so short? Please tell me this is not the end and there will be more?! This holds such a promising storyline for a sequel - I want to know what happens next. I honestly had no expectations going into this since there are no reviews yet for it, so I was so pleasantly surprised!
Cam, Miko and Draven are such intriguing and layered characters that I just want to know more about them because they have so much to offer as characters.
I also want to know what happens now that . So many questions left unanswered. You need to answer them, Jaye McKenna, I'm begging!
I also want to see what happens to Cam and Miko together. There's obviously some attraction in Cam's part. Although, while reading, I kept wanted Draven to be Cam's love interest (honestly, I kind of fell in love with Draven's character in this book... I don't know what that says about me but *shrug*). But by the end I didn't know who I wanted more together: Miko and Cam, Miko and Draven or Draven and Cam! So at this point I want an M/M/M thing to happen. *Gasp!* I know! Coming from someone who usually dislikes those relationships... I never thought I'd say that, but I love all three characters so much that it's the only thing that could satisfy me.
Anyways, all I need is a sequel. Please?
Why, oh why, was this so short? Please tell me this is not the end and there will be more?! This holds such a promising storyline for a sequel - I want to know what happens next. I honestly had no expectations going into this since there are no reviews yet for it, so I was so pleasantly surprised!
Cam, Miko and Draven are such intriguing and layered characters that I just want to know more about them because they have so much to offer as characters.
I also want to know what happens now that . So many questions left unanswered. You need to answer them, Jaye McKenna, I'm begging!
I also want to see what happens to Cam and Miko together. There's obviously some attraction in Cam's part. Although, while reading, I kept wanted Draven to be Cam's love interest (honestly, I kind of fell in love with Draven's character in this book... I don't know what that says about me but *shrug*). But by the end I didn't know who I wanted more together: Miko and Cam, Miko and Draven or Draven and Cam! So at this point I want an M/M/M thing to happen. *Gasp!* I know! Coming from someone who usually dislikes those relationships... I never thought I'd say that, but I love all three characters so much that it's the only thing that could satisfy me.
Anyways, all I need is a sequel. Please?
December 29, 2014
4.5
I need more. Please.
I need more. Please.
January 18, 2018
A rather unlikable protagonist redeems himself in quite the plot twist. Mildly interesting series prequel.
April 8, 2018
3.5
The story is to the point and the characters well developed. We only get Cam's view as an undercover agent who's making it into the top circle of a drug cartel on another planet and who starts to see the costs that success is taking on his soul even more so because he's a psion i.e. he's able to dig into the mind of others and using their emotions to find the information his clients want to have.
Things culminate at the time he finally made it and is trusted by the big boss. There he meets Draven, the psychotic assassin of the cartel who's a psion as well but the game changer is Miko, the slave of the drug lord who's quite often given as the highly valued gift to his favorite guests to abuse to their liking.
There is no romance here - yet. The story is just too short and the end is more like the end of an episode but not of Cam's or Miko's story. It's an appetizer and as that a good one because I intend to follow
The story is to the point and the characters well developed. We only get Cam's view as an undercover agent who's making it into the top circle of a drug cartel on another planet and who starts to see the costs that success is taking on his soul even more so because he's a psion i.e. he's able to dig into the mind of others and using their emotions to find the information his clients want to have.
Things culminate at the time he finally made it and is trusted by the big boss. There he meets Draven, the psychotic assassin of the cartel who's a psion as well but the game changer is Miko, the slave of the drug lord who's quite often given as the highly valued gift to his favorite guests to abuse to their liking.
There is no romance here - yet. The story is just too short and the end is more like the end of an episode but not of Cam's or Miko's story. It's an appetizer and as that a good one because I intend to follow
January 7, 2019
Yikes!
Alrighty, so this is NOT a romance... It is NOT a short and sweet hea... and it is most definitely NOT for the faint of heart...
This short story is dark, painful, and all kinds of rapey.
So why the 4 Stars?? Because you just have to give credit where credit is due, and damn if Jaye McKenna did make a hell of an into I to this series. There was so much depth in these 53 pages, it would put half of the books I read last year to shame.
I am hoping in future books we get to see a romance between Cam and Miko, at least a happy glimpse into their lives.
Alrighty, so this is NOT a romance... It is NOT a short and sweet hea... and it is most definitely NOT for the faint of heart...
This short story is dark, painful, and all kinds of rapey.
So why the 4 Stars?? Because you just have to give credit where credit is due, and damn if Jaye McKenna did make a hell of an into I to this series. There was so much depth in these 53 pages, it would put half of the books I read last year to shame.
I am hoping in future books we get to see a romance between Cam and Miko, at least a happy glimpse into their lives.
August 10, 2016
This is a short-but sweet little piece created as an appetizer to the multitude of books planned for this intriguing sci-fi series. It’s sort of a prologue to their individual stories (which I can’t wait to read) and sets their place for further cameos in other books (one of which is coming out soon)!
In this story, we meet Cam, a good man who has been set up with a very bad assignment. Unfortunately, it’s a very important undercover assignment that has been stretching on for years. During this time he’s done many things he isn’t proud of, and it’s eating him up inside.
And then he meets Miko, a wounded young man being kept as a pretty slave by the man at whom this investigation is directed. Cam tries to play along so as not to risk the many years he has had to live a lie, but Miko’s reality becomes too much for him to bear.
The story is well-developed and to the point, and while it is a stand-alone short, it gives some interesting background information to these three characters (Draven—the assassin—can’t forget Draven!) which will make meeting them in other books like saying hello to some old friends. :-)
In this story, we meet Cam, a good man who has been set up with a very bad assignment. Unfortunately, it’s a very important undercover assignment that has been stretching on for years. During this time he’s done many things he isn’t proud of, and it’s eating him up inside.
And then he meets Miko, a wounded young man being kept as a pretty slave by the man at whom this investigation is directed. Cam tries to play along so as not to risk the many years he has had to live a lie, but Miko’s reality becomes too much for him to bear.
The story is well-developed and to the point, and while it is a stand-alone short, it gives some interesting background information to these three characters (Draven—the assassin—can’t forget Draven!) which will make meeting them in other books like saying hello to some old friends. :-)
February 4, 2018
This was a short quick read that I liked. Special Agent Cameron Asada has spent four years deep undercover in an attempt to deal a death blow to the Sapphire Guild, the largest drug cartel on Alpha. While working at the boss's estate, Cam meets Miko, a powerful psion trapped behind a wall of silence. It doesn't take long for Cam to realize that Miko is a slave, handed around to the boss's associates as a reward for a job well done. I really liked tis book and wanted it to be longer. Miko went through a lot of abuse and the hands of his Master and his friends. All Cam wants to do is help Miko. The sex scenes in this book were really good. This was my first time reading this author. This book was written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
March 16, 2017
Slow to start, but really got into it. Would really like to hear more about the lads.
July 30, 2017
I really enjoyed this short story & thought the author packed a lot of punch into not a lot of space. I look forward to continuing the series.
June 18, 2019
Read as part of Guardians Compilation: Volume #1, Stories #1-3. Not for the squeamish or this triggered by abuse.
November 1, 2014
Well, this was certainly a surprise!
I sometimes think short stories - which this is; it took me maybe an hour and a half to read, and that was with interruptions - are harder to do well than novel-length ones. There's so little time or room, so every single word needs a purpose.
Holy cow, McKenna sure delivered! It was taut and the characters were exactly as developed as they needed to be. The setting was simple enough that I could pick up the story without any exposition and without confusion. The sexy bits were hot (and a little horrifying, but that couldn't be helped) without coming off as gratuitous.
If you aren't revealing the spoiler, I was just pointing out the one thing that I thought didn't quite ring true...But I still think this was an amazingly well-written story that everyone should check out.
And now that my review is longer than the story, I'll let you get to it while I go hunt down more of McKenna's work. She's got a new fan!
I sometimes think short stories - which this is; it took me maybe an hour and a half to read, and that was with interruptions - are harder to do well than novel-length ones. There's so little time or room, so every single word needs a purpose.
Holy cow, McKenna sure delivered! It was taut and the characters were exactly as developed as they needed to be. The setting was simple enough that I could pick up the story without any exposition and without confusion. The sexy bits were hot (and a little horrifying, but that couldn't be helped) without coming off as gratuitous.
If you aren't revealing the spoiler, I was just pointing out the one thing that I thought didn't quite ring true...But I still think this was an amazingly well-written story that everyone should check out.
And now that my review is longer than the story, I'll let you get to it while I go hunt down more of McKenna's work. She's got a new fan!
November 27, 2013
This was an intriguing little novella which introduced us to some great characters and interesting world building. I'm looking forward to reading Psi Hunter, the next book in the series, because the psions and their abilities have definitely grabbed my interest. Even though that book will apparently be about Kyn and Pat, I'm hoping Cam and Miko will be playing a large part in it or at least get a continuation of their story since there are still so many unanswered questions. Oh and I'd like more Draven too please :)
October 29, 2016
Interesting start to a series. IDK if this is a prequel, or an introduction, but it's enough to make you want to read more.
The world is not really clear yet in this short. But there is a basis. Cam is a psion, and undercover. I didn't get from this short, that it was a futuristic world...but I understand it is from reading the blurb for the first book.
Strong start. The full series, is not one of my preferred genres...but I might just give it a shot, if this short is any indication of how the rest of the series goes.
The world is not really clear yet in this short. But there is a basis. Cam is a psion, and undercover. I didn't get from this short, that it was a futuristic world...but I understand it is from reading the blurb for the first book.
Strong start. The full series, is not one of my preferred genres...but I might just give it a shot, if this short is any indication of how the rest of the series goes.
September 19, 2015
Not a genre I usually read and this was a totally new author to me.
Cam, a Psion, has been undercover for 4 years working against the largest cartel. When he goes to a meeting with his boss, he sees Miko, his boss's boy. A reward that is passed to those who due well.
Although he can't talk, Cam is able to hear Miko's screams and one night he can't take it anymore and escapes with the boy, his cover blown.
I will probably go on and read further books in this series.
Cam, a Psion, has been undercover for 4 years working against the largest cartel. When he goes to a meeting with his boss, he sees Miko, his boss's boy. A reward that is passed to those who due well.
Although he can't talk, Cam is able to hear Miko's screams and one night he can't take it anymore and escapes with the boy, his cover blown.
I will probably go on and read further books in this series.
August 1, 2016
Solid 4.5 stars. Okay so first off the book cover is creepy of Cam looking at himself in the mirror. Also my heart was breaking for him in what he was forced to do to rise in the ranks of those evil pieces of shit. My heart bleed for Miko and what said evil pieces of shits did to him. Draven, I don't think he is as cold hearted as he seems otherwise he would not have helped. Yes he is a cold blooded murder but there is more to him. Off to the next book
December 30, 2014
This is about an undercover agent who questions his own humanity and integrity. It is a short book. Even so, I was disappointed that there is no back story for any of the protagonists and no character development to speak of. Whilst I enjoyed the story, it is unlikely that I would seek out any further books by this author, well enough written but too little depth for my tastes.
January 31, 2016
2nd read Jan 2016 - loved it even more this time around.
Loved it! No cliffhanger but plenty to make me look forward to more books in this series. I'm buying 2 of them right now. Great writing, story and characters, not overloaded with sex. For those who may have triggers, there is off page rape and abuse but its not overly graphic.
Loved it! No cliffhanger but plenty to make me look forward to more books in this series. I'm buying 2 of them right now. Great writing, story and characters, not overloaded with sex. For those who may have triggers, there is off page rape and abuse but its not overly graphic.
November 22, 2015
An undercover cop has to decide whether to blow his cover in order to save a sexual slave. The m/m erotica definitely plays second fiddle to strong sci-fi elements. A prequel to McKenna's Guardians of the Pattern series, it did a reasonable job of standing on its own but still had a little work to do. Nevertheless, an excellent intro to the series.
December 29, 2014
Really good short story. Not a happy story, but it's satisfying, and since I read this after Psi Hunters, it was nice to fill in a story from the past.
Really looking forward to more from this author.
Really looking forward to more from this author.
August 23, 2015
An interesting start that left me wanting to know more about these guys. Unfortunately, these guys aren't featured again for a while. After checking the blurbs for the other books, I've lost interest in continuing.
January 8, 2014
3.5-I would have given this freebie more but it was way too short and felt aborted-very interesting though-thank you!
February 10, 2015
** 4.5 Stars **
What a delicious amuse-bouche!
I'm jumping into the next book, "Psi Hunter", straight away !!!!
March 10, 2015
I enjoyed the short. the idea of psychic powers being used as a way to intergraite into a criminal org really worked. it was a nice m/m romance that want just about the sex. highly recommend.
December 26, 2015
I wish this had had just five pages more at the end... Anyway, I have to say that this is what The Island (Lisa Henry) should have been.
May 15, 2022
Interesting introduction to a future world where psion's mind read others - there is some minor world building and scene setting in what is only a short prequel so intrigued to read on
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews