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“Sucks to be you. See you on the ArchAngel.”

  “See you there,” Lance agreed, and the call disconnected.

  John looked at the other three. “Boys, we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

  Scott put up his hand. “Let me get this straight.” He put up his first finger, “We have to find Bethany Anne?”

  “Baba Yaga,” John replied. “I don’t think she’s acting as Bethany Anne right now.”

  “Oh, so this gets better,” Scott replied. “We have to find Baba Yaga.” Second finger went up. “In the most sophisticated ship anyone knows about.”

  The third finger went up. “Who could literally be anywhere, since she has jump capabilities.”

  The fourth finger went up. “With probably the smartest AI in existence in her brain.”

  The fifth finger went up. “As well as a Kurtherian.” He gave John the fish-eye. “In case anyone forgot.”

  Scott put up his second hand and the sixth finger. “On a personal quest to deliver justice—with her bare hands, most likely. She didn’t take us, so she probably doesn’t want us to find her.”

  He paused for a moment, so Darryl waved him to put up a finger and added, “She is rich as hell, so I bet we can’t track the money.”

  Eric waved to Scott, who put up another finger. “She knows about Tabitha’s toys, and even made some suggestions on what to create.”

  John made an ugly face and waved to Scott, who put up finger number nine. “She has all our loadouts on the Shinigami. She probably has enough suits of armor for a small army on that ship.”

  Scott looked at the three guys. “C’mon, I’ve got nine up. I just need one more to make it a standard ten factors why finding Bethany Anne is going to be a cold-hearted bitch.”

  They all just looked at Scott, who sighed and put up the tenth finger. “Those Kurtherians are fucked.”

  “Baba Yaga is a cold-hearted bitch.” Eric slapped Scott on the back. “But,” he looked at his friends, thinking back to Earth, “she is our cold-hearted bitch, and she has four Bitches who will rip apart the universe to find her and bring her back safely.”

  Eric put his hand out. Darryl put his on Eric’s, followed by Scott, and then John placed his on the top.

  Eric looked around. “Four Bitches for Bethany Anne.”

  John nodded. “Till we find her—or bury everyone who keeps us from getting her back.”

  “Ad Aeternitatem,” the four voices said in unison.

  —

  The G’laxix Sphaea uncloaked as it settled on the landing pad at the bottom of the valley.

  Kael-ven’s voice came over their comm units. “Taxi sent by General Reynolds. Anyone here wanting to just disappear?”

  “Hell, yes,” John commed back. The four turned towards the ship, which was lowering the loading ramp. “We have a friend to catch.”

  “Count me in,” Kael-ven told them. “Even if I have to steal this ship to do it.”

  The chuckles of those who loved the Empress floated on the wind in that valley long after the ship had left.

  Finis…no, really ;-)

  Author Notes - Michael Anderle

  November 2, 2017

  Thank you for making your way through nineteen motherfucking books to read these notes. It means the world to me!

  In the last seven days I have written fifty thousand words to finish this book, that was written all over the world. I started and ended in the United States (Las Vegas, New York City, Charlotte, Miami, St. Petersburg), traveled to Germany (Frankfurt, Berlin), back through England (London), and swept through Brazil (Rio) and on planes traveling between.

  What do I have to say?

  A lot.

  I’m writing this as I am being driven between Las Vegas, Nevada and La Puente, California. I’m staring at the mirrored power generators near Primm Valley Golf Course off the right side of the car in the desert.

  Those are some BRIGHT SOBs, I gotta tell you.

  As I write this, it is just four days from the two-year anniversary of releasing that very first Bethany Anne book.

  Death Becomes Her.

  Wow, life has changed in just two short years.

  Last night in the Lounge Bar in the Aria Hotel I typed ‘Finis’ after Chapter Twenty-five. Then I went and played a few slot machines—which informed me I should write more books because I play slots like I play video games.

  Which is to say, they are a fun diversion, but I should never consider becoming a professional gambler because slot games make me their bitch.

  It was late enough that I had a real desire to eat, so I got a seat in Javier’s at the Aria and placed my butt down at one of the tables around the bar. Pulled the laptop out of my laptop bag, opened it after placing it on the table, and started typing again.

  Thus, we have the Epilogue.

  Tomorrow I will have dinner with Craig Martelle at Bootleggers down on Las Vegas Blvd South, and we will sit in the booth where Elvis Presley ate, right next to where the Rat Pack used to sit and eat.

  (After the fact note: it was Halloween and they were BOOKED… We got a booth—just not the Elvis booth—and holy crap we overloaded on carbs.)

  I didn’t know Craig two years ago. I didn’t know TS (Scott) Paul, Martha Carr, Justin Sloan, CM Raymond or LE Barbant, or a SLEW of other authors and fans and readers who have supported the growth of Kurtherian Gambit over the last two years.

  I’ll meet many of them this week as Craig’s first 20BooksTo50k conference at Sam’s Town happens, and we and over four hundred other authors join together to work on the business side of writing books.

  I’m going to be speaking each day at the conference. Speaking while being one of the most successful Indie Publishing authors this year, due to one woman.

  Bethany Anne.

  Bethany Anne and the power of the connected readers who pulled together and cheered that Anderle guy and the other authors who write with him. Some of my collaborators are seasoned writers who crafted stories before we ever worked together, and others trusted me to help them with getting their first story done and published.

  It has been a hell of a ride, and right now I can see on the horizon to when the final story in Bethany Anne’s third arc concludes.

  You see, I’ve always wanted Bethany Anne’s books to be about Bethany Anne, not her and someone else (in this case, Michael.)

  On February 14th, 2018 I will release the fourth and final book in The Second Dark Ages (Michael’s stories) and the last book in Bethany Anne’s arc. I will release them simultaneously on Valentine’s Day because they finish the tale of two lovers who would not be separated by death, time, responsibilities, or distance.

  It’s time we provide a conclusion for Bethany Anne and her responsibility to protect the Earth.

  It’s time to allow her a little peace to enjoy Michael.

  Then we’ll take Bethany Anne and some of her friends and release them upon the universe itself. I’ve started planning the next Bethany Anne (with Michael) series for later in 2018.

  I already know why they are moving out into the bigger Universe (well, several whys) and how they interact within the Age of Expansion inside the larger Kurtherian Gambit Universe. How Ranger Tabitha and Barnabas’ stories intertwine, and what the teams do next.

  Plus, I think it will be good for Bethany Anne to be allowed to be herself a little without the responsibility of an Empire around her neck.

  Capture Death (TKG20) is next, and in it I am going to cut loose on the aspect of Bethany Anne that I personally fell in love with during those first few scenes I wrote two years ago.

  Give a woman hell-bent on justice the power and ability to make change, then see what she does with it.

  Perhaps she will go a little dark. We shall find out when Capture Death comes out Christmas Day, 2017.

  I’ll set up a pre-order for the book $3.99. BUT… If you wait until Christmas Day to purchase the book, I’ll change the price to $0.99 once Amazon allows me to do that. Make it your own persona
l stocking stuffer.

  I smiled as I just typed that last sentence, because I thought about how last year, Christmas 2016, I released The Dark Messiah and this year it will be, Capture Death. Neither are exactly the most seasonally appropriate stories, but I would be willing to have a fun discussion that Christmas is about giving to others…

  And hope.

  Perhaps not the same hope as the Christ, but hope of a sort.

  Last year Michael the Archangel brought hope to Earth by delivering a hardnosed answer to those who would try to use strength to force others to do their will.

  This Christmas we have a story of a woman who feels to her core the need to protect. To be the mother to everyone whom these Phraim-‘Eh Kurtherians, the Seven, might harm, and to complete her promise to honor her own dead. To bring hope to those who do not know they need it.

  If Bethany Anne has her way, they will never wake up to the fact they were in danger.

  Because trouble will be taken care of while they sleep.

  I’d like to dedicate Capture Death to those who have been or are in any way, shape, or form part of a group that protects others: first responders, detectives, military, Coast Guard, medical…it doesn’t matter.

  Baba Yaga is for you.

  Ad Aeternitatem,

  Michael Anderle

  Michael Anderle

  Kurtherian Gambit Series Titles Include:

  First Arc

  Death Becomes Her (01) - Queen Bitch (02) - Love Lost (03) - Bite This (04)

  Never Forsaken (05) - Under My Heel (06) - Kneel Or Die (07)

  Second Arc

  We Will Build (08) - It’s Hell To Choose (09) - Release The Dogs of War (10)

  Sued For Peace (11) - We Have Contact (12) - My Ride is a Bitch (13)

  Don’t Cross This Line (14)

  Third Arc (2017)

  Never Submit (15) - Never Surrender (16) - Forever Defend (17)

  Might Makes Right (18) - Ahead Full (19) - Capture Death (20)

  Life Goes On (21)

  The Second Dark Ages

  The Dark Messiah (01)

  The Darkest Night (02)

  Darkest Before The Dawn (03)

  Dawn Comes (04)

  *with Ell Leigh Clarke*

  The Boris Chronicles

  * With Paul C. Middleton *

  Evacuation

  Retaliation

  Revelation

  Restitution 2017

  Reclaiming Honor

  * With JUSTIN SLOAN *

  Justice Is Calling (01)

  Claimed By Honor (02)

  Judgement Has Fallen (03)

  Angel of Reckoning (04)

  Born Into Flames (05)

  Defending The Lost (06)

  Saved By Valor (07)

  Return of Victory (08)

  The Etheric Academy

  * With TS PAUL *

  ALPHA CLASS (01)

  ALPHA CLASS - Engineering (02)

  ALPHA CLASS (03) Coming soon

  Terry Henry “TH” Walton Chronicles

  * With CRAIG MARTELLE *

  Nomad Found (01)

  Nomad Redeemed (02)

  Nomad Unleashed (03)

  Nomad Supreme (04)

  Nomad’s Fury (05)

  Nomad’s Justice (06)

  Nomad Avenged (07)

  Nomad Mortis (08)

  Nomad’s Force (09)

  Nomad’s Galaxy (10)

  Trials and Tribulations

  * With Natalie Grey *

  Risk Be Damned (01)

  Damned to Hell (02)

  Hell’s Worst Nightmare (03) coming soon

  The Age of Magic

  The Rise of Magic

  * With CM Raymond / LE Barbant *

  Restriction (01)

  Reawakening (02)

  Rebellion (03)

  Revolution (04)

  Unlawful Passage (05)

  Darkness Rises (06)

  The Gods Beneath (07)

  The Hidden Magic Chronicles

  * With Justin Sloan *

  Shades of Light (01)

  Shades of Dark (02)

  Shades of Glory (03)

  Shades of Justice (04)

  Storms of Magic

  *With PT Hylton*

  Storm Raiders (01)

  Storm Callers (02)

  Storm Breakers (03)

  Storm Warrior (04)

  Tales of the Feisty Druid

  *With Candy Crum*

  The Arcadian Druid (01)

  The Undying Illusionist (02)

  The Frozen Wasteland (03)

  The Deceiver (04)

  Path of Heroes

  *With Brandon Barr*

  Rogue Mage (01)

  A New Dawn

  *With Amy Hopkins*

  Dawn of Destiny (01)

  Dawn of Darkness (02)

  Dawn of Deliverance (03)

  The Age of Expansion

  The Ascension Myth

  * With Ell Leigh Clarke *

  Awakened (01)

  Activated (02)

  Called (03)

  Sanctioned (04)

  Rebirth (05)

  Retribution (06)

  Cloaked (07)

  The Uprise Saga

  * With Amy Duboff & Craig Martelle*

  Covert Talents (01)

  Other Books

  Etheric Recruit

  *With S.R. Russell*

  Gateway to the Universe

  *With Craig Martelle & Justin Sloan*

  The Revelations of Oriceran

  The Leira Chronicles

  *With Martha Carr*

  Waking Magic (1)

  Release of Magic (2)

  Protection of Magic (3)

  Rule of Magic (4)

  SHORT STORIES

  Frank Kurns Stories of the Unknownworld 01 (7.5)

  You Don’t Touch John’s Cousin

  Frank Kurns Stories of the Unknownworld 02 (9.5)

  Bitch’s Night Out

  Bellatrix: Frank Kurns Stories of the Unknownworld 03 (13.25)

  With Natalie Grey

  AudioBooks

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