M.A. Church's Blog, page 122
August 5, 2015
In Enemy Hands Ch 11.1
Chapter 11.1
Command was a nightmare. Red lights flashed a warning, but someone had muted the accompanying sound that signified a Code Red situation. The large screen across the room took up an entire wall.
On one side, Adlar saw a shuttle making its way toward the network grid. One the other side, radar had been activated. The Satellite Surveillance Network was clearly outlined in bright greens. It was plain to see one small section had been deactivated to allow the shuttle through.
Adlar immediately demanded the get a lock on Varo’s life sign and transport him out.
“Already tried, my Lord,” an officer answered. “We’re locked out. We can’t send you over either.”
“Frack!”
Omori moved next to Adlar. “Are you okay?”
“No, but I’m not going to snap either.”
“Good to know.”
Men and women ran from station to station doing whatever it was they did. Adlar didn’t care. All he could see was the shuttle slowly making its way to the opening in the grid.
Adlar stared at the screen as he spoke to Omori. “Has contract been established?”
“No.”
“He’s not answering?” Adlar verified as he frowned at the screen.
“No. All we know is he’s on there and his vitals are mostly stable.” Omori held up a hand when Adlar jerked around to face him. “His breathing is elevated, but not dangerously so. That could be due to many things. Fear is one.”
“May I try?” Adlar motioned to the main control panel.
“Please do. We can’t override the code for some reason, Adlar. We can’t stop the shuttle from going through and transporters are locked out. I don’t like this. I’m having fighters’ readied.”
“What! Tell me you aren’t going to attack him. Omori, if you try to hurt him I’ll—”
Omori pointed at finger at Adlar, snarling. “Do not finish that thought! I am your brother and I love you, but even you can’t threat me. I know you’re upset.” Omori dropped his voice. “And scared. But trust me. Do you understand? The fighters are there to make sure no one tries to get in while he’s going out. They will not open fire on him.”
Adlar swallowed. What had he almost done?
Omori nodded to someone at the main panel. “Open a channel again. Okay, Adlar, try to get him to answer.”
Adlar stepped up to the panel and clutched the edge. “Varo? It’s me. Adlar. Can you speak to me? I really need you to say something. Just tell me what’s going on. Talk to me. Varo? Can you hear me? Please, my princeling. Please respond,” he whispered.
Adlar didn’t care if the others heard him begging. He needed to hear Varo’s voice. Why wasn’t he responding? That made no sense, unless… unless he couldn’t.
“Nothing, my Lord,” the officer said who opened the channel. “Fighters are away and closing fast. The shuttle will clear the network grind in five… four… three… two… one… He’s gone through.”
“Frack!” Adlar yelled.
“Fighters are at the portal, but not entering. Do I send them out, Sire?”
“No. I don’t want any fighters going through if the portal should close on its own,” Omori said. “Update?”
“Ah, the shuttle just went to warp. Fighters report no ships in the surrounding area either. The portal just closed too.”
Adlar watched the streaks behind the shuttle as its warp engaged. He felt sick. “Can you track it?”
“Um, I’m scanning….. Okay, yes, my Lord. The shuttle is headed for Yesri space.”
“Yesri.” Adlar clenched his fist. “I’m going after him. Ready a battle shuttle and—”
Omari placed his hand on Adlar’s shoulder. “There’s not enough time. He’s hit warp already. It’s not like their planet is on the other side of the universe either. By the time we readied a battle shuttle, staffed it, and got it air-born, Varo will be landing in his planets air space. You show up and they’ll attack. What a prize you’d be. Sorry, but no.”
“Gods, his father.” Defeated, he turned to Omori. “Do you know what his father will do to him?”
“I can imagine. And we will do what we need to.” Omori hugged Adlar, and then stepped back. He turned to the milling men. “I want the security feed pulled from around Adlar’s room, the shuttle bay, and…. Cancel that. I want a team on this. Pull all feeds for the last ten unit hours. I want a report every unit hour even if there’s nothing yet to tell me.” Omori faced Adlar. “Come with me.”
The two men didn’t speak as they made their way to Omori’s private chambers. Once inside he ordered food and fixed Adlar a glass of green wine.
“I’m not hungry, and I don’t really want anything to drink. I need to—”
“Know what happened. I understand that, but I need you to calm down and think. You’re running on emotions, and you know what that can lead to.”
“Getting killed.” Adlar sat on the couch and dropped his head in his hands. “I do know that. But I need to do something He needs me.”
“I’m going to ask this then never bring it up again.” Omori fixed the wine and brought it to Adlar.
Adlar sat up and took it. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Omori sat next to Adlar with his own glass of wine. “Now, did Varo arrange this somehow?”
“No. I don’t believe that.” Adlar sipped the cool drink and thought about what Omori asking instead of just reacting. “I refuse to believe that. The only way I will is if he tells me himself he ran. And only then if he’s under the affect of truth serum. He didn’t run.”
“I have to agree. He seemed very excited about the two of you mating.” Omori sipped his wine. “So, if he didn’t run, how did he get on that shuttle?”
“And who put him there.”
“And why.” Omori studied his wine. “Tell me what the both of you did this morning.”
“Well, I fixed first meal for Varo in bed, and then fed him. I knew the significance of such an act since I researched it. It’s part of the courtship on his planet. Providing him food and feeding him showed I’m able to provide.”
“Bet that was an interesting conversation.”
“To say the least. We talked—actually, we kind of had a fight—and I told him I loved him. He freaked. I released the slave collar and set him free. He freaked more.”
“Oh, I imagine,” Omori said.
“I told him I wanted to mate him. There were some emotional moments I won’t go into, but he agreed. We talked about how my and his people would react. He left to shower, and I commed you.”
Omori frowned.
“After that, I asked him to join me while I dealt with some training and later for the interviews. I then set it up so he could access my rooms. He’d agreed to come with me, and we were getting ready to leave, then Maylar showed up.”
Omori sat up. “Really? What did he want?”
“He asked if he could show Varo around. I pointed out I already had, but Varo wanted to go anyway. We made plans to meet later, and I left.” Adlar set his glass down. “Frack. I should’ve thought of this sooner. Maylar might’ve been the last one to see Varo. We need to find him.”
“We do indeed.” Omori put his glass down and stood. “He was there when you commed me, and he heard you. He made a funny sound and dropped a glass he was holding. The look on his face…. He was enraged. I’d never seen such fury. I assumed it was because the contents splashed his clothes. You know how he is. But then he made some flimsy excuse and left immediately.”
“Are you thinking he was mad I planned to mate Varo? But why? I used him from feed, yes, but that’s all.” Adlar rolled his eyes at the look Omori gave him. “Okay. I might’ve been very generous with him, and well… maybe I gave him special privileges I gave no one else.”
Omori pursed his lips. “As have I. Very generous. In fact, it could be said I treated him like I would a mate. I trusted him, and because of that, I spoke frankly in front of him.”
Adlar paused, then slowly spoke. “As… as I have. Are you saying Maylar had something to do with Varo being in that shuttle? But why? What would he have to gain from that? It makes no sense.”
Omori sighed. “We’re jumping to conclusions anyway. We don’t know he had anything to do with this. We’re not even such what this is.”
“I know Varo didn’t leave voluntarily. That’s the one thing I do know in this.”
Omori tried to contact Maylar, but Maylar had set is comm to a auto-message only. It said he was with a client for the next twenty-four unit hours.
A unit hour passed and the first report can in, but it contained no information. Omori assigned more people to go through the feeds. They needed much faster results. Adlar ate, but he didn’t taste the food.
He paced, but he didn’t pay attention to where he walked. He was a man of action, someone who did what he had to do. Taking control was nothing new to him. Now all he could do was wait. And worry. Which he did in spades.
He hated this.
His mind continently turned over what happened. If they could’ve gotten to the shuttle, they might have been able to get a tractor beam on it. If they’d questioned the code instead of just allowing it to disembark, Varo might be here now. If he hadn’t left Varo that morning… and this was pointless.
Time passed slowly for Adlar. Adlar paced, schemed, and fretted. Varo would be on planet by now. How had he been received? What explanation had Varo offered as to how he’d escaped? It was well know no one escaped from Helkan so had the Yesri king believed whatever story Varo came up with? More importantly, how was Adlar going to get Varo home?
He butted in on the in-coming reports from the feeds, questioning the other person until they were often reduced to stutters. Omori put a stop to that by threatening to send Adlar back to his own rooms. Which Adlar didn’t want, so he stopped—with only minimal growling. From the corner of his eye, he kept an eye on the ever-moving clock.
“Anything?” Adlar questioned again from one corner of Omori’s rooms.
Omori shook as head as he ended the transmission. “They’re still going through the various feeds.” He turned to face Adlar. “There are a lot of feeds to go through, so this may take a while. Why don’t you—”
“If you’re about to suggest I leave, please, don’t. I think I may lose my mind if I’m alone.”
Omori walked to where Adlar stood and pulled Adlar into his arms. “Then stay if that helps. I want you to do whatever will help you the most.”
Adlar hid his face in Omori’s hair, his feelings choking him. “I fear for him. His father…. I can’t help him, and it drives me crazy. I want to kill something and there’s nothing to kill! I love him, but… goddess help me, I hate to say this, but he may be a weakness. My only weakness, and… and—”
“You can be hurt through him.”
Adlar shuddered. “I… yes. Oh gods, yes.”
Omori chucked softly under his breath. “My brother, love does not make you weak. You love me—not in the same way, of course—but you do love me. Has that ever made you weak?”
“No.” Adlar sighed. “No, it hasn’t. But you are king. There’re many men here who would lay down their life for you. Varo only has me.”
“And you are deadly.” Omori rubbed Adlar’s back. “The most deadly male I know. Don’t forget that. There’s very little you can’t do.”
Adlar stayed where he was at, letting Omori comfort him. It had been so long since he let his guard down and allowed someone to get close to him. Even his own brother. As Omori’s warmth seeped into him, he wondered why he’d shut everyone out.
Even killers had friends.
Or did he? He thought about it and decided what he had was actually acquaintances. It was so hard to trust. Outside of Omori, he really didn’t fully trust anyone. Until Varo. He couldn’t lose the man, not now. They had too many things left to do together.
TBC
August 1, 2015
Remember Him by Kazy Reed and a Giveaway!
Thanks so much, MA, for hosting this stop on my blog tour. You asked me, "Why aren't you publishing this?" and made me realize that I could do this. You read through my manuscript countless times, and then taught me how to make it better. I couldn't possibly thank you enough.
I'm thrilled to celebrate the release of my first book, Remember Him, the first in the Amsel Clan series. I hope you enjoy it! Be sure to enter the giveaway for a US$20 gift card to Amazon. See the bottom of this post for ways to enter. Thanks for reading!--Kazy
Please click here to check out my REMEMBER HIM page for more info on the blog tour.
Will the bond of blood outweigh the passions of the heart?
BLURBWhile sketching the Temple of Dendur, graduate student Carter Denwright meets—and is seduced by—a powerful vampire by the name of Alder. Once kept secret from the human world, now everyone knows of their existence. Blinded by mistaken feelings for Alder, Carter allows himself to be drawn into his life. Too late, he realizes two things: one, Alder is vicious and cruel, and two, Carter’s true love is Alder’s brother, Freyr.
The attraction between Carter and Freyr is strong, but they must fight this feeling or face the wrath of Alder. Despite their best efforts, Alder discovers the truth, and punishes Carter, hiding him from Freyr in a cruel game of cat and mouse.
Freyr is not as strong as his brother, but he vows that he will find Carter again and will stop at nothing to get him back. Carter, caught in Alder’s cruel grip, commits an act of desperation which will change all their lives forever. The question is: can Freyr find Carter and is the bond between him and Carter enough to break Alder’s hold and spoil his plans to ruin them both?
EXCERPTFreyr practically dragged me upstairs. I turned to go toward our room, but he went in the opposite direction."Oof!" I grunted when he yanked my arm. "Where are we going?""Shh!""But where—"He stopped suddenly and I crashed into the back of him. "Carter, what part of 'shh!' do you not comprehend?""Bully."His jaw tightened and raised an eyebrow. I clasped my hands not-so-innocently behind my back, tilted my hips out and ran my tongue slowly over my fangs. Freyr's breathing came faster and he moved toward me, but then he remembered his original purpose and continued down the hall. Halfway down the east wing, he reached behind a huge Grecian amphora and pressed a button on the wall behind it. A piece of the wood-paneled wall slid open to reveal a modern keypad.The code was twelve digits long. After he entered them, I heard a muted click. An entire section of the wall opened into a two foot wide, five foot high door. The light down the hall barely penetrated the first few feet inside.I opened my mouth to say something, but Freyr anticipated me. Without even looking, he slapped his hand over my mouth. We climbed in and he shut the door. The darkness was so complete that it pushed painfully on my chest. I had always hated the dark, especially since Alder kept me locked up so frequently. But this wasn't Alder. This was my mate, who loved me, so I got my breathing under control.Freyr ruffled my hair. "Now we can talk, brat. Just don't move."Like an idiot, I stepped backward and said, "I really don't like the d-daaark!" as the floor fell out from under me. I tumbled down a stone spiral staircase, banging my head with every flip, until I finally got my bearings and grabbed a step with my hands."Son of a bitch!" I cried. "I think I'm bleeding.""Yummy," purred Freyr from above."Not a time to be cute, asshole.""Sorry. Can you see anything?""Besides my life flashing before my eyes? It's pitch-fucking-black down here!""Stop yelling and use your eyes.""Oh, right," I shot back. "Let's see. Yup. There are two mangled legs and—uh oh. I only have one arm now. Is the other one up there?""I'm going to wallop you if you don't cut it out.""Hah! You'll have to find me first." Instantly, he was directly in front of me and I jumped back in surprise. I looked at where I thought his face must be and saw his eyes blazing orange. I gasped at his appearance. "Dude, your eyes are glowing.""Dude, so are yours. Now focus."I blinked a few times and tried to focus on him, and his features slowly became clear, as though a dimmed light bulb was growing brighter. "Cool!" I exclaimed. "I have night vision.""You're so easily amused. Now, come on."
BUY THE BOOKAvailable Aug 1st from Extasy Books: http://www.extasybooks.com/?route=product%2Fauthor&author_id=1058
~Available Aug 8th on Amazon~Available Aug 29th on other ebook retailers
ABOUT KAZY REEDKazy Reed grew up on a small island off the Maine Coast. At the age of sixteen, she announced to her parents that she was going to move to Denmark as an exchange student. That trip changed her life, and sparked her love of travel, languages, and history.After graduating from college in Massachusetts with a degree in Art History, she moved back to Maine, where she began to write short stories. When she was introduced to gay erotic fiction, the seed was planted and she never looked back.
Kazy still lives in Southern Maine, with her very understanding husband and two ridiculously precocious children. In addition to her published work, she is the author of a weekly flash-fiction series on her blog.
FOLLOW KAZY ONLINEBlog: http://www.kazyreed.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/avampwriter1. Twitter: http://twitter.com/avampwriterTumblr: http://mensfashionarchive.tumblr.comPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kazyreed
ENTER THE GIVEAWAYa Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm thrilled to celebrate the release of my first book, Remember Him, the first in the Amsel Clan series. I hope you enjoy it! Be sure to enter the giveaway for a US$20 gift card to Amazon. See the bottom of this post for ways to enter. Thanks for reading!--Kazy
Please click here to check out my REMEMBER HIM page for more info on the blog tour.
Will the bond of blood outweigh the passions of the heart?
BLURBWhile sketching the Temple of Dendur, graduate student Carter Denwright meets—and is seduced by—a powerful vampire by the name of Alder. Once kept secret from the human world, now everyone knows of their existence. Blinded by mistaken feelings for Alder, Carter allows himself to be drawn into his life. Too late, he realizes two things: one, Alder is vicious and cruel, and two, Carter’s true love is Alder’s brother, Freyr.
The attraction between Carter and Freyr is strong, but they must fight this feeling or face the wrath of Alder. Despite their best efforts, Alder discovers the truth, and punishes Carter, hiding him from Freyr in a cruel game of cat and mouse.
Freyr is not as strong as his brother, but he vows that he will find Carter again and will stop at nothing to get him back. Carter, caught in Alder’s cruel grip, commits an act of desperation which will change all their lives forever. The question is: can Freyr find Carter and is the bond between him and Carter enough to break Alder’s hold and spoil his plans to ruin them both?
EXCERPTFreyr practically dragged me upstairs. I turned to go toward our room, but he went in the opposite direction."Oof!" I grunted when he yanked my arm. "Where are we going?""Shh!""But where—"He stopped suddenly and I crashed into the back of him. "Carter, what part of 'shh!' do you not comprehend?""Bully."His jaw tightened and raised an eyebrow. I clasped my hands not-so-innocently behind my back, tilted my hips out and ran my tongue slowly over my fangs. Freyr's breathing came faster and he moved toward me, but then he remembered his original purpose and continued down the hall. Halfway down the east wing, he reached behind a huge Grecian amphora and pressed a button on the wall behind it. A piece of the wood-paneled wall slid open to reveal a modern keypad.The code was twelve digits long. After he entered them, I heard a muted click. An entire section of the wall opened into a two foot wide, five foot high door. The light down the hall barely penetrated the first few feet inside.I opened my mouth to say something, but Freyr anticipated me. Without even looking, he slapped his hand over my mouth. We climbed in and he shut the door. The darkness was so complete that it pushed painfully on my chest. I had always hated the dark, especially since Alder kept me locked up so frequently. But this wasn't Alder. This was my mate, who loved me, so I got my breathing under control.Freyr ruffled my hair. "Now we can talk, brat. Just don't move."Like an idiot, I stepped backward and said, "I really don't like the d-daaark!" as the floor fell out from under me. I tumbled down a stone spiral staircase, banging my head with every flip, until I finally got my bearings and grabbed a step with my hands."Son of a bitch!" I cried. "I think I'm bleeding.""Yummy," purred Freyr from above."Not a time to be cute, asshole.""Sorry. Can you see anything?""Besides my life flashing before my eyes? It's pitch-fucking-black down here!""Stop yelling and use your eyes.""Oh, right," I shot back. "Let's see. Yup. There are two mangled legs and—uh oh. I only have one arm now. Is the other one up there?""I'm going to wallop you if you don't cut it out.""Hah! You'll have to find me first." Instantly, he was directly in front of me and I jumped back in surprise. I looked at where I thought his face must be and saw his eyes blazing orange. I gasped at his appearance. "Dude, your eyes are glowing.""Dude, so are yours. Now focus."I blinked a few times and tried to focus on him, and his features slowly became clear, as though a dimmed light bulb was growing brighter. "Cool!" I exclaimed. "I have night vision.""You're so easily amused. Now, come on."
BUY THE BOOKAvailable Aug 1st from Extasy Books: http://www.extasybooks.com/?route=product%2Fauthor&author_id=1058
~Available Aug 8th on Amazon~Available Aug 29th on other ebook retailers
ABOUT KAZY REEDKazy Reed grew up on a small island off the Maine Coast. At the age of sixteen, she announced to her parents that she was going to move to Denmark as an exchange student. That trip changed her life, and sparked her love of travel, languages, and history.After graduating from college in Massachusetts with a degree in Art History, she moved back to Maine, where she began to write short stories. When she was introduced to gay erotic fiction, the seed was planted and she never looked back.
Kazy still lives in Southern Maine, with her very understanding husband and two ridiculously precocious children. In addition to her published work, she is the author of a weekly flash-fiction series on her blog.
FOLLOW KAZY ONLINEBlog: http://www.kazyreed.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/avampwriter1. Twitter: http://twitter.com/avampwriterTumblr: http://mensfashionarchive.tumblr.comPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kazyreed
ENTER THE GIVEAWAYa Rafflecopter giveaway
July 29, 2015
In Enemy Hands Chapter Eleven
Varo stood with Adlar. “I really am sorry about that. First time I had a meal in bed, and I messed it up. I really can be a jerk sometimes.”
Adlar placed a quick kiss on Varo’s lips. “There will be more times, I promise. Many, many more times.”
* * * *
After breakfast, he and Varo showered and dressed for the day.
“I’m meeting with the D’noir shortly for training,” Adlar said. “A little later I’m meeting with a couple of the palace guards who want to apply for a position with the D’noir. I’m going to need to test them to see if they have what it takes to join. Would you like to come with me? We could get in a workout if you’d like.”
“I’d like that.”
“Good. We can—” The outer door of Adlar’s chamber chimed letting him know someone was outside asking permission to enter. “I wonder who that is.”
He walked to the door and checked the screen. Outside stood Maylar.
“Odd. Wonder what he’s doing here.” Adlar opened the door to his rooms. “Greetings, Maylar. What brings you here?”
“Greetings, my Lord,” Maylar bowed to Adlar. “I happened to be at the palace and my business wrapped up early. I’m at loose ends until much later this evening when I have another appointment. I thought Varo would like that tour I promised him.”
“Oh. Well, I showed Varo around not long ago,” Adlar said.
“Ah, but I’ll show him around as a tourist. Our lovely palace looks different when viewed that way. Please?”
“It’s okay, Adlar.” Varo joined Adlar by the door. “We can work out later.”
Adlar glanced at Varo. “Are you sure?”
“I am, yes. Why don’t I meet you back here a unit hour before the final meal? I couldn’t take part in the interviews you have to do, so it works out. Is that okay?”
“That’s fine. But first, let’s get your retina and voice print scanned so you can access my rooms. This way you can come and go without problems.” It didn’t take long to scan the info into the door unit. “Okay, you’re programmed in.” Adlar kissed Varo. “See you later.”
“Can’t wait.” Varo watched the door slide close before turning to Maylar. “I’m rather glad to see you. We need to talk.”
“Is that a fact?”
“Yes.” Varo moved away from the door and deeper into Adlar’s rooms. “Things have changed from when we last spoke.”
Maylar followed Varo. “Indeed they have.”
“Wha—”
Varo heard the whine of a phaser then his body jerked as his muscles spasmed. It wasn’t painful, but it was unpleasant seeing his limbs jump and shudder and not being able to stop it. He was no longer in control of his body.
He went limp and dropped where he stood. Horrified, he realized Maylar had stunned him. No! No, no, no! His body refused to respond to his desperate attempts to move, to call out… to do something. Anything.
But he could still hear, and what he heard shocked and terrified him. Staring up at Maylar, all he could do was watch as an unpleasant smirk twisted Maylar’s features as he holstered the stun gun.
Maylar stalked to where Varo lay on the cold stone floor. “You fracking Yesri whore.”
Maylar kicked Varo’s body, snarling, but thankfully Varo couldn’t feel the kick. Yet. “Did you really think I’d let you take what was mine? I told you how I felt about Adlar. Did you really think I’d allow you to mess everything up? You? You are nothing. Nothing!” Maylar ranted. “A Yesri, for goddess sake. Your kind should be exterminated from the galaxy.”
He dropped down next to Varo. All Varo could do was blink at him.
“He’s mine, you useless space junk,” Maylar seethed. “I’ve waited and planned too long to lose him now to the likes of you. Silly, silly prince. You should’ve just left like we discussed. It would’ve made things so much easier.”
Varo wanted to cringe when Maylar fingered a hank of his hair.
“What I should do is smuggle you out of here and sell you to the worst slavers I can find. But I won’t,” Maylar said. “What I am going to do is send you back to your loving family. Did you know I was there when Adlar commed Omori and told him how he planned to mate you? Oh gods, I was furious.”
Maylar rolled Varo onto his back. There was nothing Varo could do to stop him.
After a quick call on his comm he settled next to Varo. “I see Adlar removed the slave collar. Bet you liked that. Did that make you feel good? It works well for me too. He could’ve tracked you through the collar. But not now.”
Maylar’s hand tightened on Varo’s hair, and he rocked slightly in place. Again Varo wanted to cringe, and again he could do nothing. How had he missed Maylar was crazier than a blood-starved Calious bat?
“You nearly ruined everything, but once I get you out of here, everything will go back to normal. He’ll turn to me after you ‘escape’, and I’ll make sure he knows what an evil creature you are,” Maylar rambled. “Oh yes, it’ll be me he finally mates. Not you. Never you. Me.”
Maylar’s comm beeped, and he stood. With little problem he picked Varo up and tossed him over his shoulder. Silently Varo fumed. Maylar walked into Adlar’s office. He dropped Varo into a chair then made his way to a bookcase that covered one wall.
He tossed a slight smile over his shoulder at Varo, and then he pressed one of the sconces above the shelves. It opened to a dusty, unlit passage.
Are you kidding me? A secret passage? Seriously? I thought that was only found in romance stories.
There in the darkness he could barely make out two males who stepped out of the passage. Maylar’s smile was unholy. “Greetings, my brothers.”
Chapter 11
Adlar spent several unit hours with the D’noir for training. He and the other males broke for lunch then Adlar paired them up to work out alone while he met with the palace guards who wanted to apply for a position with them.
Since he had a set of clean clothes at the training facilities, he showered there. He set them out on a bench, and then washed his hair. He’d barely finished when Tomack came running into the shower area.
“Adlar? Adlar!”
Adlar flinched and promptly dropped the soap. “Well, frack.”
He’d never heard Toamack’s voice hit such a high note and hoped he never did again. He glared at Tomack, who was red in the face and sweating. “Gods, Tomack, are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
“What are you doing ?” Tomack demanded as he grabbed Adlar’s clothes off the bench.
“Me? What are you doing? Do you have a star sickness or something? Put my clothes down.”
“Star sickness? But.... Put... Arrrgh!” Tomack threw his head back and yelled. Then, taking a deep breath, he rushed to the showers. “Get out! Out! Why are you in the shower for Goddess’ sake?”
“Seriously? Tell you what. You figure it out and let me know.” Adlar shut off the water. “Preferably outside.”
Tomack gaped at Adlar and started panting. “Oh… oh good goddess, you don’t know. Oh frack. Frack! Where’s your comm?”
“Know what? And what is wrong with you? You look faint.” Adlar stepped out of the shower and wrapped his hair up in a towel. He briskly dried off. “My comm is…. Well, it was on top of my clothes and….. Ah, there it is, on the floor. Must’ve knocked it off when you grabbed my things.” Adlar slipped on his pants and buttoned them.
“Adlar….” Tomack grabbed Adlar by the shoulders. “Don’t hit me, okay? I really, really don’t want you to hit me. So stay calm and remember you like me, okay?” Tomack gulped. “Varo escaped.”
The silence was suddenly very heavy. All he could hear was Tomack panting. White noise filled his head. Tomack was wrong. He had to be.
“W-what? He, he… what ?”
The air rushed out of Adlar’s lungs. His hard-earned control evaporated as his head spun. Flashing dots appeared in front of him. Varo escaped? But, but, that was impossible. He’d left Varo in his rooms not that long ago and… and Varo loved him. He wouldn’t do that. Varo wanted to mate with him. He’s said so. Varo would not abandon him. He wouldn’t .
“Adlar? Breathe! Frack, don’t you dare pass out on me. Or hit me. I need you to snap out of it!” Tomack yelled.
Finally the desperation got through. Adlar grabbed Tomack by his shirt and lifted the guard off his feet, a nasty snarl on Adlar’s face. “What in the frack is going on? What trick is this? Varo would not betray me this way! Tell me before I rip your fracking throat out!”
Tomack grasped the hands holding him off the floor. “Command commed me ten unit minutes ago frantic to find you. An unauthorized portal was opened in the Satellite Surveillance Network system. Adlar, please my Lord, calm down.”
“Frack! I’m as calm as I’m going to get." Adlar dropped Tomack back to the ground. “What you told me makes no sense. How could Varo open a—” Adlar snatched his shirt from Tomack and put it on. “This can’t be right. Are you sure it’s Varo?”
Tomack closed his eyes, a long breath escaping. “There is no mistake. It’s Varo in the shuttle. Command scanned it and the only life sign aboard is that of a Yesri. The DNA profile matches Varo’s too. It’s him. And… and, the private code used to open the portal so he can get through is a match to… I’m sorry, Adlar. I’m so sorry.”
“What exactly are you saying?” Adlar’s stomach dropped as he shoved his feet into his boots. “You said the code was private. A match to whom?”
“Omari. Your brother.”
Shock held Adlar still then rage beat it back. “Oh, that’s just raging batar shit.” Adlar surged to his feet. “Are you saying my brother did this? That he, what? Took Varo? That he helped Varo escape? Or that he kidnapped Varo and sent him away?”
“I’m not saying that at all.” Tomack held up his hands, palms out. “Command notified Omori as soon as the code was used to open the portal. So he knows his code was used. And no, he had nothing to do with Varo’s escape. He’s the one who sent me to find you.”
“Come on. I need to get to Command.” Adlar grabbed his comm and rushed out of the showers. “Varo didn’t escape. I promise you, he’s not on that shuttle voluntarily.”
Tomack ran besides Adlar. “Omori said the same. I think… I hate to say this, but I think we have a traitor in our midst.”
“I know we do.” Adlar ran toward Command.
Tomack ran with Adlar. “I’m not sure what he or she hoped to accomplish with this.”
“Doesn’t matter. When I find them, they’re dead.”
TBC~M
Adlar placed a quick kiss on Varo’s lips. “There will be more times, I promise. Many, many more times.”
* * * *
After breakfast, he and Varo showered and dressed for the day.
“I’m meeting with the D’noir shortly for training,” Adlar said. “A little later I’m meeting with a couple of the palace guards who want to apply for a position with the D’noir. I’m going to need to test them to see if they have what it takes to join. Would you like to come with me? We could get in a workout if you’d like.”
“I’d like that.”
“Good. We can—” The outer door of Adlar’s chamber chimed letting him know someone was outside asking permission to enter. “I wonder who that is.”
He walked to the door and checked the screen. Outside stood Maylar.
“Odd. Wonder what he’s doing here.” Adlar opened the door to his rooms. “Greetings, Maylar. What brings you here?”
“Greetings, my Lord,” Maylar bowed to Adlar. “I happened to be at the palace and my business wrapped up early. I’m at loose ends until much later this evening when I have another appointment. I thought Varo would like that tour I promised him.”
“Oh. Well, I showed Varo around not long ago,” Adlar said.
“Ah, but I’ll show him around as a tourist. Our lovely palace looks different when viewed that way. Please?”
“It’s okay, Adlar.” Varo joined Adlar by the door. “We can work out later.”
Adlar glanced at Varo. “Are you sure?”
“I am, yes. Why don’t I meet you back here a unit hour before the final meal? I couldn’t take part in the interviews you have to do, so it works out. Is that okay?”
“That’s fine. But first, let’s get your retina and voice print scanned so you can access my rooms. This way you can come and go without problems.” It didn’t take long to scan the info into the door unit. “Okay, you’re programmed in.” Adlar kissed Varo. “See you later.”
“Can’t wait.” Varo watched the door slide close before turning to Maylar. “I’m rather glad to see you. We need to talk.”
“Is that a fact?”
“Yes.” Varo moved away from the door and deeper into Adlar’s rooms. “Things have changed from when we last spoke.”
Maylar followed Varo. “Indeed they have.”
“Wha—”
Varo heard the whine of a phaser then his body jerked as his muscles spasmed. It wasn’t painful, but it was unpleasant seeing his limbs jump and shudder and not being able to stop it. He was no longer in control of his body.
He went limp and dropped where he stood. Horrified, he realized Maylar had stunned him. No! No, no, no! His body refused to respond to his desperate attempts to move, to call out… to do something. Anything.
But he could still hear, and what he heard shocked and terrified him. Staring up at Maylar, all he could do was watch as an unpleasant smirk twisted Maylar’s features as he holstered the stun gun.
Maylar stalked to where Varo lay on the cold stone floor. “You fracking Yesri whore.”
Maylar kicked Varo’s body, snarling, but thankfully Varo couldn’t feel the kick. Yet. “Did you really think I’d let you take what was mine? I told you how I felt about Adlar. Did you really think I’d allow you to mess everything up? You? You are nothing. Nothing!” Maylar ranted. “A Yesri, for goddess sake. Your kind should be exterminated from the galaxy.”
He dropped down next to Varo. All Varo could do was blink at him.
“He’s mine, you useless space junk,” Maylar seethed. “I’ve waited and planned too long to lose him now to the likes of you. Silly, silly prince. You should’ve just left like we discussed. It would’ve made things so much easier.”
Varo wanted to cringe when Maylar fingered a hank of his hair.
“What I should do is smuggle you out of here and sell you to the worst slavers I can find. But I won’t,” Maylar said. “What I am going to do is send you back to your loving family. Did you know I was there when Adlar commed Omori and told him how he planned to mate you? Oh gods, I was furious.”
Maylar rolled Varo onto his back. There was nothing Varo could do to stop him.
After a quick call on his comm he settled next to Varo. “I see Adlar removed the slave collar. Bet you liked that. Did that make you feel good? It works well for me too. He could’ve tracked you through the collar. But not now.”
Maylar’s hand tightened on Varo’s hair, and he rocked slightly in place. Again Varo wanted to cringe, and again he could do nothing. How had he missed Maylar was crazier than a blood-starved Calious bat?
“You nearly ruined everything, but once I get you out of here, everything will go back to normal. He’ll turn to me after you ‘escape’, and I’ll make sure he knows what an evil creature you are,” Maylar rambled. “Oh yes, it’ll be me he finally mates. Not you. Never you. Me.”
Maylar’s comm beeped, and he stood. With little problem he picked Varo up and tossed him over his shoulder. Silently Varo fumed. Maylar walked into Adlar’s office. He dropped Varo into a chair then made his way to a bookcase that covered one wall.
He tossed a slight smile over his shoulder at Varo, and then he pressed one of the sconces above the shelves. It opened to a dusty, unlit passage.
Are you kidding me? A secret passage? Seriously? I thought that was only found in romance stories.
There in the darkness he could barely make out two males who stepped out of the passage. Maylar’s smile was unholy. “Greetings, my brothers.”
Chapter 11
Adlar spent several unit hours with the D’noir for training. He and the other males broke for lunch then Adlar paired them up to work out alone while he met with the palace guards who wanted to apply for a position with them.
Since he had a set of clean clothes at the training facilities, he showered there. He set them out on a bench, and then washed his hair. He’d barely finished when Tomack came running into the shower area.
“Adlar? Adlar!”
Adlar flinched and promptly dropped the soap. “Well, frack.”
He’d never heard Toamack’s voice hit such a high note and hoped he never did again. He glared at Tomack, who was red in the face and sweating. “Gods, Tomack, are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
“What are you doing ?” Tomack demanded as he grabbed Adlar’s clothes off the bench.
“Me? What are you doing? Do you have a star sickness or something? Put my clothes down.”
“Star sickness? But.... Put... Arrrgh!” Tomack threw his head back and yelled. Then, taking a deep breath, he rushed to the showers. “Get out! Out! Why are you in the shower for Goddess’ sake?”
“Seriously? Tell you what. You figure it out and let me know.” Adlar shut off the water. “Preferably outside.”
Tomack gaped at Adlar and started panting. “Oh… oh good goddess, you don’t know. Oh frack. Frack! Where’s your comm?”
“Know what? And what is wrong with you? You look faint.” Adlar stepped out of the shower and wrapped his hair up in a towel. He briskly dried off. “My comm is…. Well, it was on top of my clothes and….. Ah, there it is, on the floor. Must’ve knocked it off when you grabbed my things.” Adlar slipped on his pants and buttoned them.
“Adlar….” Tomack grabbed Adlar by the shoulders. “Don’t hit me, okay? I really, really don’t want you to hit me. So stay calm and remember you like me, okay?” Tomack gulped. “Varo escaped.”
The silence was suddenly very heavy. All he could hear was Tomack panting. White noise filled his head. Tomack was wrong. He had to be.
“W-what? He, he… what ?”
The air rushed out of Adlar’s lungs. His hard-earned control evaporated as his head spun. Flashing dots appeared in front of him. Varo escaped? But, but, that was impossible. He’d left Varo in his rooms not that long ago and… and Varo loved him. He wouldn’t do that. Varo wanted to mate with him. He’s said so. Varo would not abandon him. He wouldn’t .
“Adlar? Breathe! Frack, don’t you dare pass out on me. Or hit me. I need you to snap out of it!” Tomack yelled.
Finally the desperation got through. Adlar grabbed Tomack by his shirt and lifted the guard off his feet, a nasty snarl on Adlar’s face. “What in the frack is going on? What trick is this? Varo would not betray me this way! Tell me before I rip your fracking throat out!”
Tomack grasped the hands holding him off the floor. “Command commed me ten unit minutes ago frantic to find you. An unauthorized portal was opened in the Satellite Surveillance Network system. Adlar, please my Lord, calm down.”
“Frack! I’m as calm as I’m going to get." Adlar dropped Tomack back to the ground. “What you told me makes no sense. How could Varo open a—” Adlar snatched his shirt from Tomack and put it on. “This can’t be right. Are you sure it’s Varo?”
Tomack closed his eyes, a long breath escaping. “There is no mistake. It’s Varo in the shuttle. Command scanned it and the only life sign aboard is that of a Yesri. The DNA profile matches Varo’s too. It’s him. And… and, the private code used to open the portal so he can get through is a match to… I’m sorry, Adlar. I’m so sorry.”
“What exactly are you saying?” Adlar’s stomach dropped as he shoved his feet into his boots. “You said the code was private. A match to whom?”
“Omari. Your brother.”
Shock held Adlar still then rage beat it back. “Oh, that’s just raging batar shit.” Adlar surged to his feet. “Are you saying my brother did this? That he, what? Took Varo? That he helped Varo escape? Or that he kidnapped Varo and sent him away?”
“I’m not saying that at all.” Tomack held up his hands, palms out. “Command notified Omori as soon as the code was used to open the portal. So he knows his code was used. And no, he had nothing to do with Varo’s escape. He’s the one who sent me to find you.”
“Come on. I need to get to Command.” Adlar grabbed his comm and rushed out of the showers. “Varo didn’t escape. I promise you, he’s not on that shuttle voluntarily.”
Tomack ran besides Adlar. “Omori said the same. I think… I hate to say this, but I think we have a traitor in our midst.”
“I know we do.” Adlar ran toward Command.
Tomack ran with Adlar. “I’m not sure what he or she hoped to accomplish with this.”
“Doesn’t matter. When I find them, they’re dead.”
TBC~M
Iron? What iron?
So, this is kind of a medical update type of thing. I mentioned the knot on my leg that sent me to the dr earlier this month. That led to blood tests and blah, blah. I swear, they're like vamps. They all want my blood.Anyway, my cholesterol level was bang on normal so the dr took me off that med. Yay! Blood pressure was a bit on the high side so she put me on a mild diuretic. Oh goodie lol. I've spent way too much time in the bathroom lately. (I *could* say something here, but... naw lol.)
Anyhow, my iron count is low. Like waaaaaaay low. Like the dr freaked and ran the test again low. *sigh* And off to the hematologist I go. Spent all day Monday there. I finally get to see the dr... and she tells me my iron count is bad low.
Reeeeeealy? I had no idea. My iron is low? Wow. Please, tell me more.
I mean come on. I spent five hours there just to be told that? That I already knew! Grr. I was not a happy camper. So the next step was to set up an IV injection of iron. IV... as in needle in your arm. Oh fuck me, I had enough of that in the hospital after the stroke.
So Tuesday was spend in the dr office again getting the IV. This is why I hate going to the dr's. Once you start, it never ends.
The infusion went well, except for the nurse who put the damn needle in my arm. She must've been pissed at someone or just just plain mean because she threw that needle in my arm like she was playing darts and this was her last chance to win a million dollars. Fuck it hurt. And it hurt going out.
Now that arm looks like it's been beat with a wet noodle. Lovely bruises showing up and it's still sore and swollen. Some of it is side effects of the iron. They gave me a sheet a mile long with what *could* be showing up later.
Oh, fun times.
And... if you're craving ice, you're probably anemic, like me. That's a sign according to the dr. I had no idea. Anyway, the only saving grace was Face Off started last night. As y'all know I love that show. I already have my favs picked out lol.
So that was my past two days. I got nothing done on the writing front either. Thank God I didn't have edits. Yes, my arm still aches and that annoys me. I might have to go kill a character lol for revenge.
Love you guys! I'll keep y'all updated. I have to go back in a week for another round. Grr again.
~M
July 27, 2015
Pride Promotions presents Surrounded by Crimson by Lexi and a Giveaway!
Author Name: Lexi Ander
Book Name: Surrounded by CrimsonSeries: Sumeria’s SonsBook: FourSeries should be read in order for maximum enjoyment.
Release Date: July 1, 2015
Blurb: Tristan has agreed to bond with Ushna but there is still much to do and returning to Tribe Enkidu puts everyone on edge. Tristan is being stalked like prey all the while fighting depression as he mourns the loss of Nikita and enduring a battle of wills with the Elder Council over his birthright. The pleading of his adoptive daughter only adds still more stress to the situation.
Stumbling onto a secret prison while searching for Ushna leads Tristan to risk everything to free a lost God. But breaking the tie to his Flame has more repercussions than Tristan knew and the assistance of a forgotten Goddess and a centuries old lover may not be enough to save him.
Pages or Words: 48,000 words
Categories: M/M Romance, Menage/Poly, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Excerpt:Ushna was out of the car and greeting his parents before I unbuckled the seatbelt. Hami wasn't as tall as his son but he was wide, very wide, barrel-chested with a set of deltoids on him the size of small children. His dark hair was cut above the ears and I'd never seen the man without at least three days growth of facial hair. It looked good on him. That kind of scruff made me resemble a bum.
Donya was tall and lean, one of those women who had a natural sway when she walked. Her blue-black hair fell to her waist in thick glossy waves. Her skin was a deep almond, darker than her husband's or son's, and her bright, emerald-green eyes were large and expressive.
They both greeted Ushna with festive exuberance, and why not? I'd kept him away from them for a very long time. I observed them for a moment over the hood of the SUV. Hami picked his son up in a bear hug, laughing loud and boisterous. Donya took his face between her palms as she gazed deeply into his bi-colored eyes—eyes that were forever changed by me. At that thought, I wondered how they truly perceived me. My stomach rolled with anxiety-induced queasiness.
With all the grace of someone my size, I made my way into the house, leaving Ushna to his family reunion. I had hoped we wouldn't see them until after the children were born. I'd entered the home stretch of my pregnancy. Even with the ring of illusion, I had a hard time hiding my condition. Early in my pregnancy, Gregori had fashioned a ring of magic, creating the illusion that hid my continually growing stomach and constructed a normal appearance.
A pregnant male wasn't something we wanted to explain to humans. With the looming threat of assassination, if my identity was discovered, we thought it best to continue to keep my birthright a secret until after the children were born. So I'd continue to wear the illusion even though the ring wasn't much help now. The giveaway was in the walk and the way I stood. People could see there was something different by how I held my body and it couldn't be helped. I was able to hurry, in spurts, and then I lumbered like an elephant—very National Geographic.
Neesie followed me into the kitchen. She was dressed differently than what I'd become accustomed to. Gone were the combat boots, black jeans, and white tees. She wore a pale blue silk blouse, a pinstriped pencil skirt, and knee-high black stiletto boots. She appeared fierce in a whole new way.
"Why didn't you wait and greet Ushna's parents?" she asked.
With a plate in hand, I inspected the cold cuts tray that sat on the kitchen counter. I was starved and wanted something quick to eat before everyone came in. When I didn't answer Neesie, she took the plate from me and started placing fresh vegetables on it.
"I thought I'd give them some time to catch up," I finally replied. It wasn't a complete lie. "They haven't had their son to themselves in quite some time. They don't need me hanging out in the background."
Neesie pinned me with her golden-brown gaze. "That is such bullshit and you know it. What's the real issue?"
I quirked a smile at her. "You know I love ya?"
"Yes, and you're the one who called me for dating advice because you suck at subtle. Your 'hey moron, get your hands off my sister' ranked right up there."
"I can't help it if Mr. Octopus Arms was oblivious to his audience."
"Go ahead and keep playing that song because I know you still refer to him as Lonnie Fucking-Fowler. Before you walked into the house, your face turned green and you practically sprinted in here."
"Ahh, stampede!" I gave mock crowd screams. Neesie was not impressed.
"Spill, jackass." She shoved a full plate into my hands and a chair under my ass. Neesie glared at me but her expression was filled with concern.
"Fine, you tyrant. I wanted to make a good impression. I wanted to be able to show them that I am a strong partner and worthy of their son's love and devotion. But right now I'm huge, and miserable, and swollen, and hungry. Why did you give me carrots? You know I hate carrots. You're trying to torture me, aren't you? I'm an elephant, not a rabbit. I get like peanuts or something, not Bugs Bunny hand-me-downs." I threw the carrot at my cackling sister. The woman was not remorseful.
"Tristan."
I threw another carrot at Neesie before turning to see who called for me. I swallowed a curse as I faced Donya. She stood in the doorway, her large green eyes soft and liquid as she searched my expression.
"Ma'am?" Embarrassingly, my voice cracked like I was fourteen years old.
"How can we not be proud of you, son?" Donya crossed the room in a smooth glide and gently took me in her arms. "We've always been proud of you, Tristan, don't ever believe differently." Tentatively I embraced her in return and ignored Neesie's sniffles.
Sales Links: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_bookx_info&cPath=116&products_id=922
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Surrounded-Crimson-Sumerias-Sons-Book-ebook/dp/B010OV9Y56/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1437878594&sr=1-1&keywords=surrounded+by+crimson
About the author:Lexi has always been an avid reader, and at a young age started reading (secretly) her mother’s romances (the ones she was told not to touch). She was the only teenager she knew of who would be grounded from reading. Later, with a pencil and a note book, she wrote her own stories and shared them with friends because she loved to see their reactions. A Texas transplant, Lexi now kicks her boots up in the Midwest with her Yankee husband and her eighty-pound puppies named after vacuum cleaners.
Where to find the author:Web site: http://www.lexiander.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexi.ander.9Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LexiAnder1Blog: http://lexiander.blogspot.com/E-mail: lexi.ander.author@gmail.com
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6521302.Lexi_Ander
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Cover Artist: Londen Burden
Tour Dates & Stops: 27-Jul Rainbow Gold Reviews Hearts on Fire GGR Review
28-Jul My Fiction Nook Cathy Brockman Romances Decadent Delights The Hat Party
29-Jul MM Good Book Reviews Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
30-Jul Bayou Book Junkie
31-Jul Love Bytes Molly Lolly
3-Aug Nephylim The Novel Approach
4-Aug Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves Cate Ashwood
5-Aug Chris McHart Inked Rainbow Reads
6-Aug Divine Magazine BFD Book Blog
Rafflecopter Prize: 1. Prize offered: $20 Amazon Gift card, $20 All Romance Gift card, hard copy of Surrounded by Crimson, swag (pens, bookmarks)2. $20 All Romance Gift card, hard copy of Surrounded by Crimson, swag (pens, bookmarks)3. hard copy of Surrounded by Crimson, swag (pens, bookmarks)4. e-book copy of Surrounded by Crimson5. e-book copy of Surrounded by Crimson
Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway
And now for the interview!!!
*waves* Thank you for having me on the blog today!!What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?In my opinion, the most important element is knowing how to put heart into your story. You can have perfect writing mechanics but if you can't put into words the heart that draws the reader in, then it becomes a book that is easy to put down and forget to pick back up again. When I'm reading, if the author doesn't set that hook in me that drags me along after page ten, I'll get distracted. Nine times out of ten, I'll put the book down and look for something else to read. I remind myself of that every time I sit down to pen the beginning of any story. Plot holes, bad grammar, fixing a plot arch, missing or thin world building—most everything else can be fixed through beta reading and editing. The world can be engaging and different,Are you working on anything at the present you would like to tell us about? Ruby Red Booty Shorts and a Louisville Slugger is what I'm working on now. It's slated to re-release in September but there are several changes that I'm making to the original manuscript. It had been written for a holiday Submission call with a word count limit. It didn't qualify for the call but was accept for general submission. It wasn't on the market long before it was pulled off (publisher issues). The feedback that I received from the new publisher and editor seriously helped. Ruby Red is being expanded and the order of events rearranged. I did a lot of telling in the story, which will be fixed, and the relationship elements between Diego and Beck are being addressed. Because seriously, readers were plopped right down in the middle of the story and then sped right on through without seeing the relationship growth between the two. I'm a bit nervous about the changes because I've read the story one way for so long that I'm second guessing all of the rearranging. ^_^
How do you come up with the titles to your books? Sometimes I choose the title of the story before I start writing. That allows me to write incorporating the meaning of the title into the story. If I don't select the title before I begin, then usually I'll have it before I'm half way finished. That was what happened with Alpha Trine. But with Striker, I had the title before I wrote the story. That title was actually hinted at in Alpha Trine. Surrounded by Crimson was selected before I started writing the story because I knew what would happen to Tristan, but as I wrote I unintentionally wove it in to other elements of the story. The red tunics Tristan wears. What Tristan espied in the caldron. The one time I finished a story with having a title was Ruby Red Booty Shorts and a Louisville Slugger. That one my husband helped me with, taking two elements from the main character and shoving them together. But damn, it's a long title to write.
What did you want to be when you grew up? What did I not want to be? Imagine my disappointment when I discovered I couldn't really make a living riding horses. I wanted to be a history teacher, an archeologist, an author, a NASCAR driver, child psychologist, an author, a nurse, a football player, a choir teacher, a cartoonist, an author, beach volleyball player, a mom, and the list goes on. I hated that they said I had to choose just one occupations.
When writing descriptions of your hero/ine, what feature do you start with? Eyes, hair?I just noticed this about myself. I start with the eyes, and I'm not sure why. Maybe because I pay attention to someone's eyes. They're so expressive.
If you had to do your journey to getting published all over again, what would you do differently?Pick a different publisher to start with… LOL! Hindsight, I would have worked on my manuscript more, got a better handle on the mechanics, and completed the series before submitting the first book. Here lately, it feels like I'm always playing catch up on my own series because readers would like to have their story--now please. :D
Ebook or print? And why? Both. Ebook because it's easy to store. Although I've been scared that I'll lose data and I'll have books that aren't recoverable. Some places like Amazon and All Romance have my bookshelf, but not all places are like that or they've gone out of business. Print because I love getting author autographs. I don't care if I have the ebook, if I can get a signature I'll buy the book again. I also like print because I can easily get my friend addicted to my favorite stories just by handing them my copy. They can thank me later and hide from their spouse when they too become addicted to the author and then buy the back list. If I really like the author or the book I will also buy the audiobook. No joke. I could have both ebook and print and still buy it to listen to. I'm a huge re-reader. So being able to have access to my favorite reads regardless of where I am is awesome. ^_^
Thank you for stopping by and reading. Good luck with the giveaway!
July 26, 2015
Pride Promotions presents The Sidhe by Charlotte Ashe and a giveaway
Author Name: Charlotte Ashe
Book Name: The Heart of All Words, Book One: The Sidhe
Release Date: July 21, 2015
Blurb: Since his childhood, Brieden Lethiscir has admired The Sidhe, the beautiful and magical beings native to the Faerie world outside his homeland of Villalu. Though he grew up in a culture accepting of Sidhe enslavement by Villalu’s elite, Brieden finds that he can no longer tolerate the practice when he becomes a steward to Prince Dronyen, who is viciously abusive of his sidhe slave Sehrys. Captivated by the handsome and mysterious sidhe slave, Brieden vows to free and return Sehrys to his homeland.As they escape the capital and navigate a treacherous path to the border, Breiden and Sehrys grow close. Breiden soon learns both the true power of The Sidhe, and that the world that he thought he knew is not what it once seemed. If they survive to reach the border, he will have to make a choice: the love of his life, or the fate of his world.Pages or Words: 442 pages
Categories: Fantasy, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance
Excerpt:The sidhe was tall, supple and lithe, as all sidhe tended to be, with milk-pale skin that glowed like moonlight over lean, taut muscles. Like all the others before him, he was naked, giving potential buyers a full picture of what they were bidding on. And he was extraordinary, head to toe. His chin-length hair was violet-red and it gleamed in the afternoon sun. His lips were pink and delicate with a pronounced bow, his nose had a narrow, smooth slope and his eyes... His eyes. It wasn't that they were the most incredible color imaginable: a storm of deep, contrasting, impossible greens unlike any Brieden had ever seen. And it wasn't that they were large and almond- shaped beneath a fan of plum-colored lashes. It was that they were full to the brim with life. Never before had Brieden seen a sidhe slave with such lively and expressive eyes, even as he stood for auction. Those eyes were not dull or defeated in the slightest. Wary, yes, and utterly devoid of trust, but also blazing. Blazing like the eyes of that sidhe Brieden had seen at the riverbank when he was twelve years old— the only free sidhe Brieden had ever had the chance to behold. The elf stood on that platform as if he owned it. As if he were judging every human man before him, and not the other way around. He tucked a lock of hair behind a delicately pointed elfin ear, then jutted his chin to reveal a chiseled jaw that contrasted beautifully against his tender features. And though he knew it was insane, Brieden was quite sure that he was in love.
Sales Links:
IP Web Store: store.interludepress.com
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Sidhe-Heart-Worlds-Book/dp/1941530338/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=dueboo-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=S4FGRD5D7HUPQWXV&creativeASIN=1941530338
About the author:Charlotte Ashe is a social worker by day and a writer of romantic fantasy by night. A long-time fan of speculative fiction that skews feminist and features LGBTQ characters, Charlotte loves writing stories that are sexy, heartfelt, and full of magic and adventure. She has put her B.A. in literature and creative writing to use over the years as a writer of online fan-based fiction, and her most popular work has drawn more than one million readers worldwide, been translated into several languages, and been featured in online publications including The Backlot.Charlotte lives in Portland, Maine and can be found sleeping at the beach all summer and clomping along the cobblestones in her Bean boots all winter, writing fairytales in her head to distract from the cold.
Where to find the author:
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Charlotte-Ashe/1416233241994204Twitter: @CobwebsandAshesWebsite: www.CharlotteAshe.com
Goodreads Link: goodreads.com/user/show/32040943-charlotte-ashe#_=_ Publisher: Interlude PressCover Artist: Sarah Sanderson
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And now for the interview!
Tell us about how you do your world-building.
It happens in layers. I pick a starting point and then I think about what layers it needs to support it. What historical events helped to mold the culture the reader is introduced to? How important is religion to the culture in question, and how does the predominant religion(s) shape the culture’s view of morality? What are the rules the characters must live by, both those that are flexible/socially constructed and those that are inflexible, such as the rules of magic? Then I look at the world I’ve build as if I were a reader, and try to tear it apart and find inconsistencies and weak spots, and then I work on those inconsistencies and weak spots until I have something that feels tight and solid. When I’m really lucky, mending inconsistencies can lead me to some of my best ideas.
What is your take on the future of Science Fiction/Fantasy in general? Do you see it expanding and vibrant, or derivative and stale?
Expanding and vibrant, for sure! The beauty of speculative fiction is that not even the sky is the limit. The sky is just the beginning. There is no law, no rule, no convention, no assumption that needs to be a given in fantasy/sci fi. There are some stale and derivative books out there, sure, but this genre really lends itself to blazing one’s own path. I think that speculative genres by their very nature will always be expanding and vibrant, because so many of the people drawn to write in them are so incredibly imaginative.
Do you write in multiple genres or just one? If just one, do you ever consider straying outside your genre?
I love writing romantic fantasy, but I definitely plan to write outside the genre in the future. Not terribly far outside the genre, mind you—I could happily write fantasy without a concentration on romance, and I definitely plan to write science fiction in the future, because I absolutely adore sci fi. I would also love to write YA fantasy featuring LGBTQ characters eventually. Some of the best speculative fiction being written right now is YA, in my opinion.
What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?
The best, always and forever, was “kill your darlings.” It hurts like hell, but it’s so important. Learning to let go of content that I love that simply doesn’t work for the story has helped me develop a thicker skin, and it’s made me a better writer. The worst was “don’t write junk.” In this context “junk” meant things like romance and sci fi and fantasy. But especially romance. I majored in literature and creative writing in college, and I learned to feel ashamed and frivolous for the kinds of things I loved to read and write about. It took me a long time to really overcome the damage that this “advice” from a well-meaning but clueless professor did to my dreams of becoming a writer. What I’ve come to realize is that if you write something you love, it is not junk. And if you’re lucky enough that even one other person loves it too, it becomes treasure.
Ebook or print? And why?
It really depends on what I’m reading. I have an e-reader that I carry with me in my purse and I read most books that way. But I have learned that books with strong visual components don’t really work this way, and that I hate reading cookbooks in digital form. If the words alone are enough to carry the story, I love ebooks. They also take up a lot less space on my bookshelf.
What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
These days I’m never not writing! If I were a full-time writer I would probably start right after breakfast, but I have a day job that needs my full attention for most of the day. So I generally spend my evenings writing during the week, and my mornings writing on the weekend.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?
Writer’s block is the worst! And unfortunately, the only way to deal with it is to power through it. I have time set aside to write each day, and I force myself to write during this time. I even installed a program on my computer that blocks the internet during my writing time so that I can’t procrastinate. If there’s something I need to look up, I just highlight it and go back to it after my allotted time is up. If I do take a break, I have rules: I must do something active (like take a walk or do some dishes) so that my brain can have a break, and I must make it very strictly time-limited, like 10 minutes. Those types of breaks can actually help, as long as they’re used sparingly. Overall, I’ve found is that if I force myself to keep writing—however slowly—when it’s hard, I usually break through and hit my stride at some point during the process. I think discipline, practice and routine are the only remedies for writer’s block, which sucks, because when you’re blocked the last thing you want to do is exercise discipline.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
A bit of both, but more of a pantser, definitely. If I plan too much out ahead of time, I just end up scrapping a lot of it when I’m into the nitty-gritty of writing anyway, so I usually don’t bother. I always have a general idea of what’s going to happen, but I like to give myself the freedom to veer off course if it will lead me to better material. Ideas often come to me while I’m physically writing, sometimes even ending up on the page before I’ve consciously thought them through. I write fast and messy and then I go back and edit within an inch of my life. I’ve tried other methods, but this is the one that works best for me.
July 22, 2015
In Enemy Hands Ch 10. 2
Here's the page for the whole story so far: http://machurch00.blogspot.com/p/in-enemy-hands.html
In Enemy Hands
After they cleaned the mess Varo made, Varo took a shower to get the food off him. While he was in the shower, Adlar sat in the couch and commed Omori. He wanted a few minutes to speak to his brother alone. Later they would go together later to speak to Omori in an official capacity, but for now, he wanted to savor this. Omori’s features swam on-screen, and Adlar told him what he’d done and what he planned to do.
“Congratulation, my brother. I’m happy for you. Can’t say I’m surprised to hear it. I’ve never known you to alter course after you set your mind on something. So you removed the collar. You told him how you feel. Good. Does he feel the same as you?”
“Yes. He said he loves me too.”
“Excellent. Never thought I’d see the day a Helkan and Yesri mate, but stranger things have happened.”
“Oh? What to name a few?” Adlar asked.
“Um, not right off hand. But I’m sure there are some. Somewhere. Maybe. Huh. I might need to set the royal scribe on this task on second thought.”
“I see your sense of humor is still as dry as a desert.”
“At least I have one.” Omori waited until Adlar stopped laughing. “What? I do. Anyhow, you plan to claim him, you said. Do you know when? I guess I should tell you now you aren’t going to be able to do this quietly.”
“What do you mean? Of course we can. All I want is a simple ceremony. Maybe in your private garden with a few friends and… okay, why are you laughing again? Frack. I hate when you laugh. Nothing good ever comes from that.”
“You are my brother,” Omori said. “You are the second most powerful male on the planet and my heir until I mate—”
“Which you need to take of soon or find a way to live forever. I do not want to be king.”
“I got the comm message, thank you. Anyway, our people know you. You may be feared, but you’re also loved. Varo is a prince. Granted, a captured prince, but still a prince.”
“I’m not going to like this, am I?”
“‘Fraid not. Your mating will be announced universewide,” Omori said once again assuming the mantle of leadership. “The Yesri will probably not react favorably, but I’ll deal with that. Not much they can do anyway.”
“His father will probably blow a containment field.”
“Not just a gasket? A whole containment field? Omori’s professional masked slipped, and he chuckled. “Well, let’s just say… one can hope.”
Adlar snickered. He agreed. A noise sounded behind him, and he cringed. He turned and there stood Varo. Well, frack. How long has he been there?
Varo sat next to Adlar, but didn’t say anything about what he heard.
Omori noticed Varo. “Greetings, Varo, and congratulations. Adlar told me everything. I am sincerely pleased to welcome you to my family.”
“Greetings, Your Majesty, and t-thank you. That... that means a lot to me,” Varo said.
“None of that royal title rot when it’s just us,” Omori said, waving his hand. “You’re soon to be my brother-in-law, after all.”
“Omori hates all that bowing and scraping that comes along with being king,” Adlar whispered to Varo.
Omori rolled his eyes. “Please. So you do, so don’t start on me. Anyway, as I was saying, I’ll have the announcement on-planet once you set a date. We can do it in my private gardens if you’ll allow me to open the palace for a celebration.”
“Oh good gods, this is going to turn into a circus.” Adlar settled back on the couch and pulled Varo with him.
“That’s the price you pay for being royalty.” Varo nudged Adlar with his elbow.
“Indeed,” Omori said. “Our people need to see the two of you together, Adlar. They need to see the feelings between you both. It will help with overall sentiment.”
“Yeah, I don’t like this.” Adlar sighed. “You do realize the nightmare security will be, yes?”
“It’ll be handled. This is too big to be kept quiet so don’t ask that of me.” Omori glanced off-screen and frowned at something Adlar couldn’t see. He turned back to Adlar. “I have something to finish up here, and then I have session court. I can’t delay that. I’d like for you and Varo to attend me this evening for the final meal. We’ll talk more then.”
“Sounds good. We’ll be there.” Adlar said goodbye and shut down the comm.
Varo faced Adlar after the screen went black. “Are… are you sure you want to do this? It’s going to cause all sorts of ripples in your society.”
“I have no doubts. None at all. What’s life without some ripples? I’m not afraid to shake things up. Do you have doubts?”
“No, but it isn’t going to be easy. Besides how your people respond, there’s also my family. You jokingly mentioned my father blowing a containment field—and him being furious is a real possibility—but he could react in a totally different way than expected. You and your brother need to prepare.”
“What do you think he could possibly do he hasn’t already tried?” Adlar asked.
“The thing is, by mating me, you tie yourself to me—and through me… him. He might try to capitalize on our joining. He’d be your father-in-law, and as such he might try to claim the right to attend the joining.”
Adlar’s first reaction was to laugh. “Oh, he can claim all he wants, but Omori isn’t going to let him set foot on our planet. We’re certainly not going there for some contrived visit, either. I wouldn’t put it pass him to try to take me hostage and use me against Omori. Or take you hostage and use you against me.”
“He’d do anything to get his hands on the abundance of Black Phospolrock your people control. Anything,” Varo stressed.
“We are aware, believe me. Because of some species’ inability to take no as an answer, we had to set up Satellite Surveillance Network that surrounds out planet. The Yesri was the main one, though.”
Varo took a deep breath then exhaled slowly. “I’ll tell you why. Our kingdom is close to being bankrupt. My father has made some unwise investments, but that’s not all. He’s used money allotted to certain branches of the government for other… things. Things that only benefit him. Jewels, silks, whores, other homes, outrageous parties… it never ends. His spending is shocking, but he keeps spending instead of cutting back.”
“We knew he was greedy.”
“Greedy and reckless. For the past several years he’s upped taxes, but the economy is still horribly unstable. The middle class is unhappy with him and the rest of us in the ruling family. The poor are desperate. Things are bad, Adlar. Really bad.”
“Is civil war possible?” Adlar asked.
“Maybe. The rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. My father ignores it all, but trouble is brewing under the surface. Now this. He will try something. This is too much of an opportunity for him to pass up.”
“For all the good it will do him.”
Varo took Adlar’s hand. “He may be vain and an ass, but he’s also ruthless. The only thing he cares about is money and power. Don’t underestimate him.”
“I won’t. Now come, let’s try the first meal again, shall we? I’m still hungry.”
Varo stood with Adlar. “I really am sorry about that. First time I had a meal in bed and I messed it up. I really can be a jerk sometimes.”
Adlar placed a quick kiss on Varo’s lips. “There will be more times, I promise. Many, many more times.”
TBC
In Enemy Hands
After they cleaned the mess Varo made, Varo took a shower to get the food off him. While he was in the shower, Adlar sat in the couch and commed Omori. He wanted a few minutes to speak to his brother alone. Later they would go together later to speak to Omori in an official capacity, but for now, he wanted to savor this. Omori’s features swam on-screen, and Adlar told him what he’d done and what he planned to do.
“Congratulation, my brother. I’m happy for you. Can’t say I’m surprised to hear it. I’ve never known you to alter course after you set your mind on something. So you removed the collar. You told him how you feel. Good. Does he feel the same as you?”
“Yes. He said he loves me too.”
“Excellent. Never thought I’d see the day a Helkan and Yesri mate, but stranger things have happened.”
“Oh? What to name a few?” Adlar asked.
“Um, not right off hand. But I’m sure there are some. Somewhere. Maybe. Huh. I might need to set the royal scribe on this task on second thought.”
“I see your sense of humor is still as dry as a desert.”
“At least I have one.” Omori waited until Adlar stopped laughing. “What? I do. Anyhow, you plan to claim him, you said. Do you know when? I guess I should tell you now you aren’t going to be able to do this quietly.”
“What do you mean? Of course we can. All I want is a simple ceremony. Maybe in your private garden with a few friends and… okay, why are you laughing again? Frack. I hate when you laugh. Nothing good ever comes from that.”
“You are my brother,” Omori said. “You are the second most powerful male on the planet and my heir until I mate—”
“Which you need to take of soon or find a way to live forever. I do not want to be king.”
“I got the comm message, thank you. Anyway, our people know you. You may be feared, but you’re also loved. Varo is a prince. Granted, a captured prince, but still a prince.”
“I’m not going to like this, am I?”
“‘Fraid not. Your mating will be announced universewide,” Omori said once again assuming the mantle of leadership. “The Yesri will probably not react favorably, but I’ll deal with that. Not much they can do anyway.”
“His father will probably blow a containment field.”
“Not just a gasket? A whole containment field? Omori’s professional masked slipped, and he chuckled. “Well, let’s just say… one can hope.”
Adlar snickered. He agreed. A noise sounded behind him, and he cringed. He turned and there stood Varo. Well, frack. How long has he been there?
Varo sat next to Adlar, but didn’t say anything about what he heard.
Omori noticed Varo. “Greetings, Varo, and congratulations. Adlar told me everything. I am sincerely pleased to welcome you to my family.”
“Greetings, Your Majesty, and t-thank you. That... that means a lot to me,” Varo said.
“None of that royal title rot when it’s just us,” Omori said, waving his hand. “You’re soon to be my brother-in-law, after all.”
“Omori hates all that bowing and scraping that comes along with being king,” Adlar whispered to Varo.
Omori rolled his eyes. “Please. So you do, so don’t start on me. Anyway, as I was saying, I’ll have the announcement on-planet once you set a date. We can do it in my private gardens if you’ll allow me to open the palace for a celebration.”
“Oh good gods, this is going to turn into a circus.” Adlar settled back on the couch and pulled Varo with him.
“That’s the price you pay for being royalty.” Varo nudged Adlar with his elbow.
“Indeed,” Omori said. “Our people need to see the two of you together, Adlar. They need to see the feelings between you both. It will help with overall sentiment.”
“Yeah, I don’t like this.” Adlar sighed. “You do realize the nightmare security will be, yes?”
“It’ll be handled. This is too big to be kept quiet so don’t ask that of me.” Omori glanced off-screen and frowned at something Adlar couldn’t see. He turned back to Adlar. “I have something to finish up here, and then I have session court. I can’t delay that. I’d like for you and Varo to attend me this evening for the final meal. We’ll talk more then.”
“Sounds good. We’ll be there.” Adlar said goodbye and shut down the comm.
Varo faced Adlar after the screen went black. “Are… are you sure you want to do this? It’s going to cause all sorts of ripples in your society.”
“I have no doubts. None at all. What’s life without some ripples? I’m not afraid to shake things up. Do you have doubts?”
“No, but it isn’t going to be easy. Besides how your people respond, there’s also my family. You jokingly mentioned my father blowing a containment field—and him being furious is a real possibility—but he could react in a totally different way than expected. You and your brother need to prepare.”
“What do you think he could possibly do he hasn’t already tried?” Adlar asked.
“The thing is, by mating me, you tie yourself to me—and through me… him. He might try to capitalize on our joining. He’d be your father-in-law, and as such he might try to claim the right to attend the joining.”
Adlar’s first reaction was to laugh. “Oh, he can claim all he wants, but Omori isn’t going to let him set foot on our planet. We’re certainly not going there for some contrived visit, either. I wouldn’t put it pass him to try to take me hostage and use me against Omori. Or take you hostage and use you against me.”
“He’d do anything to get his hands on the abundance of Black Phospolrock your people control. Anything,” Varo stressed.
“We are aware, believe me. Because of some species’ inability to take no as an answer, we had to set up Satellite Surveillance Network that surrounds out planet. The Yesri was the main one, though.”
Varo took a deep breath then exhaled slowly. “I’ll tell you why. Our kingdom is close to being bankrupt. My father has made some unwise investments, but that’s not all. He’s used money allotted to certain branches of the government for other… things. Things that only benefit him. Jewels, silks, whores, other homes, outrageous parties… it never ends. His spending is shocking, but he keeps spending instead of cutting back.”
“We knew he was greedy.”
“Greedy and reckless. For the past several years he’s upped taxes, but the economy is still horribly unstable. The middle class is unhappy with him and the rest of us in the ruling family. The poor are desperate. Things are bad, Adlar. Really bad.”
“Is civil war possible?” Adlar asked.
“Maybe. The rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. My father ignores it all, but trouble is brewing under the surface. Now this. He will try something. This is too much of an opportunity for him to pass up.”
“For all the good it will do him.”
Varo took Adlar’s hand. “He may be vain and an ass, but he’s also ruthless. The only thing he cares about is money and power. Don’t underestimate him.”
“I won’t. Now come, let’s try the first meal again, shall we? I’m still hungry.”
Varo stood with Adlar. “I really am sorry about that. First time I had a meal in bed and I messed it up. I really can be a jerk sometimes.”
Adlar placed a quick kiss on Varo’s lips. “There will be more times, I promise. Many, many more times.”
TBC
July 16, 2015
Pride Promotions presents Buchanan House by Charley Descoteaux and a giveaway!
Author Name: Charley Descoteaux
Book Name: Buchanan House
Release Date: August 19, 2015
Blurb: Eric Allen, thirty-three-year-old line cook, moved in with his grandmother, Jewell, after a disastrous coming-out when he was in middle school. She raised him, and he cared for her when she fell ill. When Jewell died she left everything to Eric—angering his parents and older brother. The inheritance isn’t much, but Eric and his bestie Nathan pool their money and buy an abandoned hotel on an isolated stretch of the Central Oregon Coast. The hotel isn't far from Lincoln City—a town with its own Pride Festival and named for a president—so they christen it Buchanan House after James Buchanan, the “confirmed bachelor” president with the close male friend.Eric and Nathan need a handyman to help them turn Buchanan House into the gay resort of their dreams. Eric finds Tim Tate in the local listings and over the months leading to opening weekend Tim reveals himself as a skilled carpenter with many hidden talents. Eric falls hard for Tim, but before he can see a future with the gorgeous handyman he has to get over twenty years of being bullied and shamed by his birth family. It would be much easier if Eric’s brother Zach weren’t trying to grab part of the inheritance or ruin opening weekend.Pages or Words: 45,000 words
Categories: Romance, Bisexual, Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance
Excerpt:
Timothy Tate knocked on the front doors at eight o’clock sharp. Eric had barely been up long enough to start coffee, and Nathan had yet to emerge. They’d slept in one of the rooms on the first floor. The official reason was to avoid having to clean two rooms, but the unofficial reason was to talk into the night like they had back in middle school. Slumber parties for thirtysomethings. Somehow that didn’t make Eric feel any better about meeting this Tim person.But opening the door sure did.Tim Tate was as tall as Nathan, so six one, and he had curly black hair and eyes so dark you could get lost in them.“Morning.” He wasn’t much for smiling, though.“Good morning. Please come in. I’m Eric.”Tim nodded and seemed to be looking at something behind Eric’s right shoulder. As soon as Eric remembered to step aside, Tim came in. “You bought this place?”“Yes. Isn’t it lovely? The inspector said the bones are solid, and someone did amazing work on the rooms. Right now, we need help with the kitchen and some reno on the public areas.”“Should tear it down and start fresh.”“I beg your pardon. That’s a horrible thing to say. You don’t discard something just because it’s not perfect. With a little love—maybe this isn’t going to work out.”Tim shrugged and looked around the room. His face seemed to soften into… nostalgia? It held a wistful quality, of that much Eric was certain.“Have you been in this room before?”Tim had turned away a little, so the left side of his face pointed toward Eric.Is that his best side?He didn’t answer, so Eric repeated the question, a little louder.“Huh? Oh, yeah. When I was a kid. Sometimes the local clubs would use it for summer camps. It’s been empty for over ten years.”“Why? I mean, did something happen here?”“No. The owners died, and their kids didn’t want to live out here. Can’t blame ’em. Entertainment isn’t easy to come by.”Nathan chose that moment to enter, in his pink robe with the ostrich-feather trim. He spoke quickly, almost dancing through the room and toward the aroma of coffee. “Good morning. You don’t mind I borrowed your robe? And this must be Tim. Lovely to meet you, sweetheart. Coffee, then business.” He flounced into the kitchen.Eric and Tim watched him go. The silence in his wake stretched out a little too long for Eric, mortified by the thought Tim might believe the robe belonged to him.
Sales Links: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
About the author:Charley Descoteaux has always heard voices. She was relieved to learn they were fictional characters, and started writing when they insisted daydreaming just wasn’t good enough. In exchange, they’ve agreed to let her sleep once in a while. Charley grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during a drought, and found her true home in the soggy Pacific Northwest. She has survived earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods, but couldn’t make it through one day without stories.
Where to find the author:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charley.descoteaux.3Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/CharleyDescoteauxAuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/CharleyDescotePinterest: http://pinterest.com/charleydescote/Blog: http://cdescoteauxwrites.com/blog/Goodreads Link: Publisher: Dreamspinner PressCover Artist: LC Chase
Tour Dates & Stops: July 17, 2015 Parker Williams , Inked Rainbow Reads, Havan Fellows, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, Molly Lolly, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Tara Lain, The Hat Party, Divine Magazine, BFD Book Blog, Bayou Book Junkie, MM Good Book Reviews, Bike Book Reviews, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Decadent Delights, The Blogger Girls, Velvet Panic, Ogitchida Book Blog, Reviews by JessewaveRafflecopter Prize: Backlist book of choice from CharleyRafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway
July 15, 2015
In Enemy Hands Ch 10
Here's the page for the whole story so far: http://machurch00.blogspot.com/p/in-enemy-hands.html
Chapter Sixteen - Varo
Stretching, he reached for Adlar, but all he found was a cold bed linen next to him. Rolling over onto his back, he stared up at the ceiling. Last night had been different. The sex had been mind blowing, but Adlar’s touch was softer. More gentle. More… loving. He touched him like he cared. Like he was treasured.
No one had ever treasured him before.
It wasn’t just the sex that had felt different. The final meal had been…. Well, it had been more like a couple sharing a meal with a well-loved family member. Which was something he couldn’t wrap his head around, but it was obvious Adlar cared for his brother.
The scent of food teased him right before the door to the bedroom opened, and there stood Adlar holding a tray with one hand.
“Ah good, I was hoping you were awake.”
Stunned, Varo stared helplessly at the food. What had prompted this?
“Come on, up you go. Need to eat while it’s still hot.”
Varo set up and smoothed the sheet over his lap. “Um, that smells really good. Thank you. I’ve, ah, never had first meal in bed before.” Varo pushed his hair out of his face. “Well, not brought to me by anyone other than servants.”
“Excellent. A treat, then.” Adlar came in and set the tray on Varo’s lap.
Varo stared down at all the food in front of him. It all looked good, and suddenly he was starving. “Most certainly. Can I, ah, ask the reason for such a treat?”
Adlar shrugged. “I was in the mood to do something for you. This seemed like a good idea.”
Why won’t he look at me? Is that a blush I see on that pale skin of his? “There’s a lot here. Join me?”
The grin on Adlar’s face lit up the room as he sat next to Varo. “I’d love to. Thank you.”
Varo quickly noticed a problem. There was only one set off eating utensils, and Adlar didn’t seem like he wanted to leave. Adlar picked up the fork and scooped up fluffy teal eggs. The fork shook slightly as he held it up to Varo’s lips.
Varo’s stomach hit the floor. Part of the courtship on his planet was not only providing food, but also feeding your intended. It showed willingness to take care of a partner. Did Adlar know? If he did, why was he doing this?
He didn’t know what they called bonded pairs on Helkan, but surely Adlar knew Varo couldn’t be a bond partner. He was a slave. One didn’t bond with a slave. Did they?
“Let me, Varo. Please.”
Varo gulped. Adlar asked. He said please. He never said please. He didn’t have to; he was the master here.
Varo opened his mouth.
“I have something to say to you, but I need you to listen to me first. Don’t interrupt, please. You will have questions which I will gladly answer… after I am finished. Can you do this for me?”
Varo closed his mouth and nodded. Oh goddess, now what?
“Good.” Adlar forked up more food and held it out to Varo. “When you first arrived here, you came to cause trouble. To kill as many as you could. Oddly enough, I do understand how you felt. My people harbor just as many unpleasant feeling toward your people too.”
Varo ate the food and hiked and eyebrow as he chewed. But we have reason. Or so I used to think.
“I’m not going to debate why we find ourselves in this mess. This is our planet and our resources. We have the right to do as we please with them and no one has the right to say otherwise. But… I found you interesting. I don’t mind telling you I was slightly horrified over that.”
Varo snorted. You and me both.
Adlar held the drink for Varo, and Varo sipped carefully. “I imagine you felt the same. You’ve been trained to think of us as the bad guys.”
Varo shrugged. True.
“I also put a slave collar on you. In the beginning it was necessary—”
“Oh that’s just—”
“Hush.” Adlar tapped Varo’s lips. “It was necessary. Give half a chance you would have tried to kill me and I would have had to hurt you then. I didn’t want to. There were a lot of things I wanted to do to you, but hurting you wasn’t one of them.”
Varo stared at Adlar. And I enjoyed them.
“You were the enemy. Of course you’d take any opportunity to try to escape or kill me. I couldn’t allow that. And yes, I wanted to break you. Not destroy, though. I should have known then what was happening.”
Adlar fed Varo more breakfast, then ate some too. “You are such a contradiction. So smart, fearless… a leader, obviously. You captained a starship which is impressive. But, you were also so innocent. So naïve about certain things. I watched you grow, Varo. I watched you consider other points of view, even if you didn’t agree.”
Varo looked down at the tray. Yeah, and it was painful too, to see we might have been arrogant fools all this time too. Nothing horrifying about that revelation.
“I also grew. You interested me from the start, but that interest changed. I wanted to know Varo, not the Yesri prince. What made you tick? What did you like? Who were you? Attraction was there from the start, but it grew into something beyond the need to break you. I wanted to… treasure you.”
Varo jerked his head up. Huh?
“Yes, I was surprised too. You responded so beautifully to me I swore I’d take care of you. My feelings changed. Then you saved me in that cave. Things could have gone much differently with you holding my weapon. I think that’s when I knew I was falling in love with you.”
Varo’s mouth fell open as he jerked back in the bed. He was done keeping his mouth shut. “W-what? You what? But that’s…. that’s not possible! We’re enemies. We’re totally different.”
“We’re not that different.”
“Yes, we are . If nothing else, I’m your slave. A slave. What about that? Are you going to… what? Claim me? Mate me? Keep me as your slave? What role will I have? What happens when you get tired of me? Trade me off to another?”
“Do you care for me, Varo? I just told you I’m falling in love with you.”
“By the stars you can’t do this to me!” Trembling, Varo stared at Adlar. “I will never fit in here, do you understand that? I’m hated here. I hear how they talk about me. You don’t get it. I have to…. I must get…. I can’t let myself….”
“ Do you love me ?”
Varo knocked the tray off his lap, food flying across the room as tears poured down his face. “Goddess help me, yes ! I don’t want to, though! I can’t live never knowing if you’ll get rid of me, if I’m nothing but a slave to you. I just can’t .”
Adlar grabbed at Varo’s waving hands and barked out a command in his language.
Varo shrieked in panic. “Oh goddess , please no, don’t—”
The slave collar fell off onto the bed.
Chest heaving, both males stared at the collar. Varo’s hand crept to his throat. “You… you released it. Why would you do that?”
Adlar watched the shock roll across Varo’s face. “Because I love you. I can’t keep you like this, Varo. I see how it affects you. I… I want you to be with me, yes, but as a free man. I want you as my mate. I want to claim you in front of my people. They will know how I feel about you.”
“You… you want me? I mean, officially? Really? You aren’t… ashamed of me?”
Adlar reached for Varo and pulled him close. “Never. Do you hear me? There is nothing to be ashamed of. I would be honored to have you by my side. Are you ashamed of me ? Of being mine?”
“Oh goddess, of course not. Why would I?”
“I could ask you the same. Your people don’t like me either.” Adlar kissed Varo’s temple. “But we will change their mind, won’t we? We’ll show them there is more to both of us than a name. That is, if you would do me the honor of mating me.”
“This isn’t going to be easy.”
“Nothing worth fighting for is.”
“How does your brother, your king, feel about this?”
“He knows, and he is okay with it. He told me from the start you were no slave.”
“Adlar, what about my men?”
Adlar sat back. “They belong to the males who took them, just as you belonged to me. I’d kill anyone who tried to take you. There's not much I can do, Varo. What I can do is let you see them. Talk to them. I’ll see if their masters will sale them to me, though I doubt it.”
“Buy them. Gods, that’s just….” Varo shook his head. “Okay, if you can buy them, then what?”
“Then they can live here and act as servants. They will not be set free, Varo. Remember, you and your men attacked us. You landed on our planet with intent to cause harm.”
Varo sighed. “Yes, we did.”
“We can not ignore that, nor will we. You knew what the repercussions would be if you were taken alive. This is the best I can do.”
“Yes, we knew and agreed to try to attack. I just hate the fact they’re slaves.”
“I will try to make sure they’re happy, okay?”
July 14, 2015
Trouble Comes in Threes is coming out in audiobook!
Whoot! The cats of Trouble are coming to audio! OMG I'm so excited. *bounce* This is my first audiobook.
I just got the email today so I have no date yet. In fact, I'm still listening to voices lol. Which is so cool. But it *is* coming! So just as soon as I know something, y'all know something. ;)
~M
