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Nyxari Bondmates #5
Alien Protector's Bond
He’s supposed to be my enemy.
Instead, he might be my only way out.
I came to uncover Hammond’s secrets.
Now I’m shackled in the dark beside a Nyxari warrior whose golden lifelines burn brighter than the sun.
Ravik doesn’t trust me.
He barely speaks.
But when our captors push us past the edge, his strength is the only thing keeping me standing—
and his touch is the only thing keeping me sane.
The deeper the experiments cut, the more our bodies respond.
Resonance. Heat. Something ancient neither of us understands.
And when our lips finally meet…
I know nothing will ever be the same.
He’s sworn to protect the secrets of the ruins.
I’m the key that could unlock them all.
And together?
We just might shatter a world.
Stranded on an alien world. Bound by ancient power.
Each step toward survival forges a bond no heart can escape. Don’t miss the next book of the Nyxari Bondmates!
Instead, he might be my only way out.
I came to uncover Hammond’s secrets.
Now I’m shackled in the dark beside a Nyxari warrior whose golden lifelines burn brighter than the sun.
Ravik doesn’t trust me.
He barely speaks.
But when our captors push us past the edge, his strength is the only thing keeping me standing—
and his touch is the only thing keeping me sane.
The deeper the experiments cut, the more our bodies respond.
Resonance. Heat. Something ancient neither of us understands.
And when our lips finally meet…
I know nothing will ever be the same.
He’s sworn to protect the secrets of the ruins.
I’m the key that could unlock them all.
And together?
We just might shatter a world.
Stranded on an alien world. Bound by ancient power.
Each step toward survival forges a bond no heart can escape. Don’t miss the next book of the Nyxari Bondmates!
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 24, 2025
108 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Ava York
105 books132 followersReader, dreamer and frantic scribbler. I really do believe that love conquers all... and make terrible things for my characters to survive to prove it! (insert evil laugh here)
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 25, 2025
Zara and Ravik . . .
Zara Graydon came back to consciousness in a moving transport vehicle, her head aching, wrists and ankles restrained, and darkness. The air was recycled and unpleasant. She had survived alone in the mountains for 3 weeks. She needed to let the Eastern Settlement know what Hammond was up to. But she got careless and they caught her. They found her hidden translator stone, so communication would be impossible with the Nyxari. They took her to a medical station… probably a lab. The instruments filled her with dread. It got colder and damp, mold and stagnant water joined the ozone smell. They threw her in a cell and she saw a Nyxari warrior prisoner slumped against the wall, scarred with burns from Hammond’s experiments. He was badly injured. His tribal markings were different from the clans she was familiar with.
When the guards came back to take the Nyxari away for experiments, Zara continued to search their cell. She took a loose bolt from the slab that was meant as a sleeping shelf and she hid it in her boot. When the Nyxari returned, he was terribly weak and in pain where they damaged his lifelines. She tried to clean the wounds and some sort of reaction occurred. He looked concerned and confused. His lifelines brightened slightly. She had to find a way to communicate, so she again said she was Zara. This time, he touched his chest and said “Ravik”. It resonated through her, low and melodic, and she actually felt the sound under her skin, not a label but a tether, pulling her toward something ancient and alive. A tremor went through the building again. Emergency lighting flickered and went out, plunging them into darkness. But the glyphs on the wall brightened with the power fluctuations. Ravik knew what this was and was filled with dread. Zara’s marking also responded. She felt the ruins awaken, she was understanding the data streams. Hammond’s experiments were forcing instabilities in the power grid. Pain ran through her head from the overwhelming input. Ravik grabbed her hand and their markings recognized each other as they balanced each other and the data stream became more comprehensible to her. And he was protecting her. But he is sworn to protect the secrets of the ruins. And apparently Zara is the key to unlock them all. Will they figure out how to work together to stabilize this? Will they be able to escape before Hammond tries something else with them?
Zara Graydon came back to consciousness in a moving transport vehicle, her head aching, wrists and ankles restrained, and darkness. The air was recycled and unpleasant. She had survived alone in the mountains for 3 weeks. She needed to let the Eastern Settlement know what Hammond was up to. But she got careless and they caught her. They found her hidden translator stone, so communication would be impossible with the Nyxari. They took her to a medical station… probably a lab. The instruments filled her with dread. It got colder and damp, mold and stagnant water joined the ozone smell. They threw her in a cell and she saw a Nyxari warrior prisoner slumped against the wall, scarred with burns from Hammond’s experiments. He was badly injured. His tribal markings were different from the clans she was familiar with.
When the guards came back to take the Nyxari away for experiments, Zara continued to search their cell. She took a loose bolt from the slab that was meant as a sleeping shelf and she hid it in her boot. When the Nyxari returned, he was terribly weak and in pain where they damaged his lifelines. She tried to clean the wounds and some sort of reaction occurred. He looked concerned and confused. His lifelines brightened slightly. She had to find a way to communicate, so she again said she was Zara. This time, he touched his chest and said “Ravik”. It resonated through her, low and melodic, and she actually felt the sound under her skin, not a label but a tether, pulling her toward something ancient and alive. A tremor went through the building again. Emergency lighting flickered and went out, plunging them into darkness. But the glyphs on the wall brightened with the power fluctuations. Ravik knew what this was and was filled with dread. Zara’s marking also responded. She felt the ruins awaken, she was understanding the data streams. Hammond’s experiments were forcing instabilities in the power grid. Pain ran through her head from the overwhelming input. Ravik grabbed her hand and their markings recognized each other as they balanced each other and the data stream became more comprehensible to her. And he was protecting her. But he is sworn to protect the secrets of the ruins. And apparently Zara is the key to unlock them all. Will they figure out how to work together to stabilize this? Will they be able to escape before Hammond tries something else with them?
July 26, 2025
Good story, bad editing
I’ve read all five of the books in this series so far. They are very good sci-fi actually but this book was a total mishmash of editing errors. Not sure if the book was released before it was ready but there were many continuity errors (ie., Phillips was killed and then pops back up again at the end of the book as if nothing happened) and major editing issues where it looks like a rough draft of Zara’s and Rivek’s escape appears in the middle of the book and then jumps back into another version of the story before continuing on. It made the book confusing and hard to follow for a good bit. Thankfully it straightens out in the end but only after forcing myself to continue on with the story did I find that out. If this had been the first book of this series I had read I might not have thought it was worth reading but it was only after reading the first four did I know that overall the books are very good and that the mistakes in this book are hopefully just one-offs. The series is just too good for those kinds of mistakes to happen.
I’ve read all five of the books in this series so far. They are very good sci-fi actually but this book was a total mishmash of editing errors. Not sure if the book was released before it was ready but there were many continuity errors (ie., Phillips was killed and then pops back up again at the end of the book as if nothing happened) and major editing issues where it looks like a rough draft of Zara’s and Rivek’s escape appears in the middle of the book and then jumps back into another version of the story before continuing on. It made the book confusing and hard to follow for a good bit. Thankfully it straightens out in the end but only after forcing myself to continue on with the story did I find that out. If this had been the first book of this series I had read I might not have thought it was worth reading but it was only after reading the first four did I know that overall the books are very good and that the mistakes in this book are hopefully just one-offs. The series is just too good for those kinds of mistakes to happen.
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November 17, 2025My issue
Zara and Ravik’s relationship is built up well. The slowness was right for the situation but whenever they risked their lives to attempt escape it felt like a simple task, the difficulty was under-cut by the portrayal. Never did I fear for their safety or chances at success, they think the right things and act accordingly while in a place they really shouldn’t be so familiar with despite Zara’s connections and Ravik’s observation. The first few chapter did a much better job, the situation felt dire, unlike the final fight.
The resolution is honestly uninteresting. The character introduced at that point are flat and single use since the ending is so close.
Overview
Cute read if not a little predictable. Ravik and Zara have a uniquely built and trusting relationship.
Zara and Ravik’s relationship is built up well. The slowness was right for the situation but whenever they risked their lives to attempt escape it felt like a simple task, the difficulty was under-cut by the portrayal. Never did I fear for their safety or chances at success, they think the right things and act accordingly while in a place they really shouldn’t be so familiar with despite Zara’s connections and Ravik’s observation. The first few chapter did a much better job, the situation felt dire, unlike the final fight.
The resolution is honestly uninteresting. The character introduced at that point are flat and single use since the ending is so close.
Overview
Cute read if not a little predictable. Ravik and Zara have a uniquely built and trusting relationship.
June 25, 2025
Zara finds herself imprisoned alongside the formidable Nyxari warrior Ravik, both are wary of each other. The initial communication barrier between them is brilliantly handled, I loved the way they learn to understand each other without words.
Ravik moves past the fear instilled in him by his Elders and their prophecies—the "danger" the marked women bring—and learns to trust what he sees with his own eyes and learns to trust the bond he feels with Zara. Their reluctant alliance evolves into something deeper, passionate, and connected. A fantastic read that combines action, suspense, and a truly heartwarming romance.
Ravik moves past the fear instilled in him by his Elders and their prophecies—the "danger" the marked women bring—and learns to trust what he sees with his own eyes and learns to trust the bond he feels with Zara. Their reluctant alliance evolves into something deeper, passionate, and connected. A fantastic read that combines action, suspense, and a truly heartwarming romance.
November 9, 2025
just keeps sliding in quality
I thought the last book was bad about having no editor and continuing to call Mc by her last name rather than her first but calling it her first… ugh… over and over. This one continued with timing, dates, which characters were in play. I’ll give you that when the alien love interest said he was taking them out for good… maybe he just subdued them all. Like at least the main plot advances? The sex scenes are increasingly bland and more of an outline. Skippably dull with less and less mental pull or foreplay. It’s like the ai is even bored of writing them. It feels more and more written by ai and not even edited. Skip series.
I thought the last book was bad about having no editor and continuing to call Mc by her last name rather than her first but calling it her first… ugh… over and over. This one continued with timing, dates, which characters were in play. I’ll give you that when the alien love interest said he was taking them out for good… maybe he just subdued them all. Like at least the main plot advances? The sex scenes are increasingly bland and more of an outline. Skippably dull with less and less mental pull or foreplay. It’s like the ai is even bored of writing them. It feels more and more written by ai and not even edited. Skip series.
June 27, 2025
Ava York's Alien Protector's Bond continues the epic saga of the Nyxari Bondmates. Evil human military man Hammond continues to experiment with the Marked human females and Nyxari males, trying to make connections that would allow him to control the actual planet. Security specialist Zara finds herself incarcerated with Ravik, a Nyxari warrior from the Shadow Canyon, guardians of the sacred mysteries Hammond wants to control. As the two form a Bond, they escape, hoping to prevent Hammond from reaching his goal. one more book to go!
August 2, 2025
Enemies or Friends
This series is getting intense! I never despised a character as much as Hammond. The man is psychotic and truly unstable. Zara and Ravik were perfect for each other, forming a partnership through the trauma of their captivity. Enemies to lovers are my favorite trope. I loved how Ravik’s preconceived notions slowly began to change as they worked together to escape and warn the settlement. I am looking forward to the next book. Hammond needs to get his!
This series is getting intense! I never despised a character as much as Hammond. The man is psychotic and truly unstable. Zara and Ravik were perfect for each other, forming a partnership through the trauma of their captivity. Enemies to lovers are my favorite trope. I loved how Ravik’s preconceived notions slowly began to change as they worked together to escape and warn the settlement. I am looking forward to the next book. Hammond needs to get his!
August 7, 2025
Disorganized and cobbled together
The story is good, but the way it is put together is confusing. First, they escape, then they are still imprisoned, and then they escape some more. There are references to rescuing another that isn't there and doesn't come up again (like maybe Claire from 2 books previous?). It seems like it was a shortcut cut and paste job in some ways. I was glad to be finished with this one.
The story is good, but the way it is put together is confusing. First, they escape, then they are still imprisoned, and then they escape some more. There are references to rescuing another that isn't there and doesn't come up again (like maybe Claire from 2 books previous?). It seems like it was a shortcut cut and paste job in some ways. I was glad to be finished with this one.
June 25, 2025
I loved how this started with two who couldn’t communicate and came from different perspectives, especially the way they learned to communicate and overcome their differences. This is one of my favorite books from this author now.
I received a free copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
July 18, 2025
exciting series
I have really enjoyed this series so far, but this one seemed to rush in places. What started as a day or two of imprisonment then seemed to be weeks with any mention of time passing. I was very confused as I almost thought I had missed a chapter or two.
Still a great series but didn’t flow as well as the earlier books.
I have really enjoyed this series so far, but this one seemed to rush in places. What started as a day or two of imprisonment then seemed to be weeks with any mention of time passing. I was very confused as I almost thought I had missed a chapter or two.
Still a great series but didn’t flow as well as the earlier books.
October 31, 2025
Alien protectors bond
Sara has been captured bound hogtied by evil Hammond s goons and thrown into a cell with a captured Nyxan prisoner Ravik. They have experimented horribly on poor Ravik, burns and scars all upon his body. Once these two start communicating, they plan an escape. Then wham bam the sparks fly in more ways then one. Recommend this series so exciting.
Sara has been captured bound hogtied by evil Hammond s goons and thrown into a cell with a captured Nyxan prisoner Ravik. They have experimented horribly on poor Ravik, burns and scars all upon his body. Once these two start communicating, they plan an escape. Then wham bam the sparks fly in more ways then one. Recommend this series so exciting.
June 24, 2025
Again I found a good read in this book. I would not mind more stories in this series. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy.
July 16, 2025
Good read🌟
Zara is thrown in the cell with Ravik, a Nyxari who does not want anything to do with her. But their survival depends on each other. Enjoy
Zara is thrown in the cell with Ravik, a Nyxari who does not want anything to do with her. But their survival depends on each other. Enjoy
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews