Adan d’Amato grimaced as he studied the scene in front of him. Gambler’s Paradise they called this place, but it was more likely Gambler’s Hell.

Humans were packed in like miners on an old Ewellian transport. Between the noise that their mechanical machines made, and the sound of their voices, it was enough to send a less-seasoned warrior running for cover.

At Adan’s side, Lyan d’Vesti wore a fierce scowl. His mood was echoed in his mind-thought. The Council wastes our time. We’ll find no bond-mate here.

Adan laughed softly at Lyan’s impatience. Our mate will arrive. Whoever watches over her would not send us to this location if she were not going to be here.

Lyan snorted. You have too much respect for the infallibility of the Council and its genetic scientists. Their predictions and equations do not always hold true in the real world. Have I not told them so each time I was hauled before them to explain my actions? It would amuse them to send us on a wild chase, or mate us to a human with nothing of the Fallon in her. But if this human mate is unsuitable, then I will have one of my own choosing. The Vesti take what belongs to them when the time is right to take it. We do not beg at the table of the Council.

Adan didn’t bother hiding the amusement in his thoughts. No doubt you have managed to offend someone on the Council, if not all of the members. But I have been a model citizen. When the marker in your genes was matched to the human’s, the scientists had to know that you would choose me to complete the mate-bond. No doubt they would have welcomed the extinction of your traits, but because of the respect they hold for mine, they told you of the woman’s existence.

Lyan shifted impatiently. We will see if you remain amused as this plays out.

In front of the warriors, a red light suddenly began flashing. A siren screamed and an elderly human female with blue-tinted hair squealed in a tone pitched high enough to shatter Sarien glass. Only reflexes honed by hours of training and years of experience kept Adan and Lyan from using the Ylan crystals on their wrists to transmute the offending machine into particles so small that it could never be recovered.

Coins began tumbling out of the machine the elderly human had been hovering over. Lyan shook his head in amazement. Coins! It has been thousands of years since our ancestors were here and yet these humans continue to evolve at the creeping pace of a Tresor slug. No wonder our appearance gave rise to their legends of angels and demons!

Adan shrugged. Be glad that some of the Fallon were drawn to these humans and bred with them. If not for the genes of our shared ancestors, there would be no hope for either the Vesti or the Amato and both of our races would be doomed to extinction.

Lyan fought down the fury that always threatened to consume him at the mention of the fate awaiting those on Belizair. His heart raged at the pain his elder brother and his brother’s mate endured. Unless the genetic scientists found a solution to the bio-gene virus the Hotalings had let loose on Belizair, his brother’s pairing would produce no children. Nor would there be children for any of the Amato or Vesti females.

So far the scientists had found only one way to defeat the Hotaling virus. Now the Council’s agents searched among the humans in order to identify those females who had the genetic marker of one of the Fallon-the shared ancestor race of the Amato and Vesti.

All hope to avoid extinction rested on the unmated males, yet each male carried both the fear that there would be no match and the knowledge that it required a Vesti or Amato co-mate in order to produce offspring.

Lyan forced the tightness out of his chest. He was the first of his family to be matched. The continuance of their line rested with him-and Adan. He had never been drawn to females outside of his race but… Even as the thought took form, a woman entered the casino and need shot through him.

Suddenly he had to fight for air, fight even to keep his balance. The purple-colored Ylan crystals woven into the wristbands bearing the symbol of Lyan’s clan-house burned against his skin, echoing the searing heat swirling through his very bloodstream.

Adan took a sharp intake of breath, his eyes zeroing in on the woman. The deep gold Ylan crystals on his wrists swirled as his emotions surged in recognition of their mate’s presence. “By the Council, she is exquisite,” Adan murmured as he placed a hand on Lyan’s shoulder.

Lyan’s nostrils flared as every predatory instinct within him focused on their mate. She was small, even among her own people, and dressed in black-the color of a warrior’s clothing. And yet her body was made for pleasure, not fighting.

Against the black material, her hair was a golden torch. Lyan could imagine the silky heat of it burning its way across his skin and inflaming him further as it flowed over their writhing bodies. The mating fever of the Vesti race shimmered just below the surface of his control. He was rock hard, ready. Instinct urged him to pounce now, to take her, join with her, make her completely his. A low growl vibrated along his throat.

Like a cool wind, Adan’s voice whispered, warned, And to take her that way is to guarantee there will be no offspring, for either of us. It is not one or the other, it is both or there is no conception at all.

The growl in Lyan’s throat deepened. He snarled, Curse the Hotalings and their get. Let our people hunt them down one-by-one and rid the universe of them for their use of the bio-gene weapons.

And we will. But for now let us be glad that our scientists have found a way for us to avoid extinction. Our mate awaits. Do we stand here and argue what cannot be changed, or do we go and secure her so that through her womb our lines may both survive?

Adan didn’t wait for an answer, but stepped forward. As he did so, the woman sensed his movement and looked at him. He was too skilled a hunter not to see her tense, ready herself to escape. Her reaction flooded his being with the desire to protect her even as blood pounded through him in anticipation of a chase. Let her run. The victory and mating would only be that much more intense. On his wristbands, the gold crystals swirled in tune to his anticipation of a mate, an heir, the survival of his race.

Lyan’s voice growled in his mind, Now whose lust threatens to leave us without a mate? She must accept us willingly or there is no bond.

Adan laughed softly. Do you really doubt our ability to secure our bond-mate? Before this night is over, she will belong to us in all ways.

“The first in Strong’s FALLON MATES series is a steamy paranormal replete with sizzling menage a trois adventures and two irresistable take-charge heroes. A well-written, compelling history draws the reader into Adan and Lyan’s world, making the unbelievable believable. As an added treat, Strong delivers a tantalizing setup for the next tale in the series.”

“BINDING KRISTA is an excellent story, and I am thrilled that I had the chance to read the latest by Jory Strong…

“The storyline is wonderful with great suspense and absolutely hot love scenes. Few authors can write a ménage a trois that is tender, touching, and sizzling at the same time. BINDING KRISTA is one of the few books that could successfully be considered either a great romantic erotica or a great erotic romance.

“BINDING KRISTA is absolutely wonderful, and I cannot wait for the next book from Ms. Strong. Definitely a keeper. Romance readers should head to their computer and quickly buy this book!”

“This book hit every hot spot I had in every sex scene. The desire, tenderness, and protectiveness that Adan and Lyan felt towards Krista were very genuine. Even the suspense surrounding what would happen with Krista’s problem with Alexi was a good addition to the story… FALLON MATES 1: BINDING KRISTA was the best ménage romance I’ve ever read, and reaffirmed my choice in putting Jory Strong on my auto-buy list!”

“Krista, Lyan and Adan are all well developed characters with fascinating personalities. They complement each other very well. Their relationship is not conventional but it is intriguing and progresses at a believable pace. The sex scenes are hotter than a firecracker and left me breathless…

“Ms. Strong has written a very creative futuristic tale that I enjoyed very much. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about multi partner relationships. FALLON MATES 1: BINDING KRISTA is most definitely a keeper!”

“FALLON MATES – BINDING KRISTA is an absolutely sensually delicious read. The relationship between the three main characters kept me turning the pages. The air around them sizzled right off the pages and kept me riveted.”

“BINDING KRISTA is an extremely sensual, fiery novel, and the ménage scenes are enough to sear the reader’s eyeballs when they aren’t laughing at the antics the characters get up to when not tangling the sheets. Spicy wild and enjoyable …BINDING KRISTA fulfills its promise to be an erotic delight.”

“The bottom line is that BINDING KRISTA is a magnificent read that requires from time to time either a glass of ice water or a fan in hand.”

“I became so engrossed in this book that I couldn’t put it down. The characters felt real to me, and I felt like I became involved in their lives…The sex in the book is sizzling, with two men willing to do anything to please their woman. I really enjoyed reading BINDING KRISTA and it is without doubt a keeper.”

“I cannot wait for the next book in this series! This was such a great story! Not only was there fabulous sex, but the plot was great as well.”

“I enjoyed this book so much that I could hardly put it down until I finished. Jory Strong created such a heart-warming story. Krista had brains and she used them in the most logical way. I felt this was a great story and cannot wait until Ms. Strong brings out her next one.”

“A refreshing twist on the ménage a trois, BINDING KRISTA is a wild romp with enough mystery and mayhem to keep you turning pages determined to figure out how Adan and Lyan win the girl. Ms. Strong took a small bit of legend and turned it on its side in BINDING KRISTA creating a vastly enjoyable plot. Two plots actually – the men’s quest to find their mate and Krista’s to escape her ex-fiancé. By the time you reach the final page, you’re panting for more.”

“BINDING KRISTA is a wonderful book about three people who need each other. This is a ménage, so most people should be aware of that before they start reading. Adan and Lyan are very intense and sensual both together and apart. Put them together and you have pure dynamite. Krista is caught in a difficult position, but is determined to do the right thing and put her ex behind bars where he belongs. She never thinks that she will find the two men that will complete her. The love scenes in this book are incredibly hot, so keep some ice handy to cool you down. Jory Strong has done an excellent job of creating a memorable plot and colorful characters that the reader will remember long after the book is done.”

“The characters are very well developed and readers can feel the warmth, love and tenderness among them. It goes without saying the erotic level is steaming hot.”

“This story was so great! It was so good let me tell you. I am not one that likes to read too much more then one-man and one woman, but this book pulled it off with me. I so loved this story and did not want it to end. If you have not read this book or any previous books by this author I would not walk but run to buy all the books she has out, I know I will.”

“FALLON MATES: BINDING KRISTA is a wonderful tale about the love that is found by three people. It would seem that finding such a love is impossible but Jory Strong has created a story and people who will make readers think that maybe it’s not as impossible as it seems. I greatly enjoyed reading BINDING KRISTA and look forward to more of Jory Strong’s work and more of her FALLON MATES series.”

“Ms. Strong is well known for her ability to keep people hanging on to her every word from start to finish of her books. Good sex, good characters, and a fast paced plot that makes your head spin is always a good combination. BINDING KRISTA is no exception.”

“BINDING KRISTA is the first of the FALLON MATES Series. I really enjoyed this book and eagerly look forward to the rest of the Fallon stories.”