Beneath the Waves

Sun and Shadow #2

by Crystalphoenix

When Dr. Dai Kendrick is invited to be the keynote speaker at The Intergalactic Anthropological Association's annual convention, he sees it is as the perfect opportunity for shifter and sensi to take some well-deserved time off from their demanding schedules. This year's gathering is being held on Oceanus, a closed world populated by an amphibious race of scientists and scholars. Invitations to Oceanus are highly coveted in the academic world. Few people make it to the planet's surface, and even fewer are allowed to meet the Oceanus people. The water world's one remaining continent has been preserved as a wilderness sanctuary. The unspoiled nature and isolation make it the perfect place for the shifter to let his inner dragon run free without having to worry about innocent bystanders coming to harm. For the empath, solitude and nature are a healer's best medicine.When Captain Chavez's plans to take his son Michael on a fishing trip hits a snag, Dai invites father and son to accompany them on the trip. Eric would get to spend some quality time with his son and Michael would get exposure to a unique culture. It was the perfect solution. After all, what could possibly happen on a closed world full of academics?When one of the visiting scholars is found dead, the idyllic visit changes to a fight for survival. The Oceanians and Rangers have forty-eight standard earth hours to find the murderer and turn him over to the Mantidae or face retribution. Mantidae honor demands blood for blood. Oceanus either finds the killer or the Mantidae will destroy all life in the sea.Meanwhile, Wessington's forces draw closer. Dai Kendrick is the key to power, a power Wessington will do anything to possess.

339 pages, Paperback

Published April 3, 2019

About the author

Crystalphoenix is a research chemist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, with a penchant for the metaphysical. She lives in Kennesaw with two great roommates who encourage her to pursue a creative outlet (as in nags her to write), one spoiled dog and a tiger that masquerades as a Bengal cat who oversees her work.