Paranormally Yours: A Boxed Set

by Alisha Basso

  “I did it,” she said. “I called the horses.” He didn’t respond right away, so she continued. “You weren’t sure either, in the beginning, were you?”

  “I admit, I had doubts. Every Horsecaller in history had been male. We thought—”

  “Is it possible they all had sons?”

  “Possible. But I do not think anyone ever thought of that. We assumed the Horsecaller must be a man.” He took her hand. “Now, we know better.”

  With that, Lauren put concern with returning to her original home out of her mind. She had work to do here. And here felt more like home than home ever had. Even with a death sentence hanging over her head.

  They had eight days to get the horses to Lerom.

  If Enzo were right, it could be done.

  A plan began to form.

  As the sun set over the peacefully grazing horses, Lauren tugged Leinos up to a promontory where they could view the herd and be alone. The last rays of sunlight bathed them in red-gold as they stood on a spit of rock, and a light breeze ruffled the cloak away from her shoulders like ocean swells on a calm day.

  Birds roosted in the trees warbling evening songs, a sound not heard in Cirq for many years. Below, campfires sprang to life and enticing scents wafted up from cook pots. Manmade music rose up, too, flutes and strings accompanied by laughter, humming, whistling.

  Tomorrow, she and Leinos and half the Horseguard and herd would continue south. Pindar was stronger, but he wasn’t the only one who needed to go slowly. There were mares about to give birth and others with nursing foals at their sides. She would leave Pindar and Malek with the other half of her guard to follow at their own pace. The horses wouldn’t need much from the people; they knew how to take care of themselves.

  They sat atop a flat rock as they had the day before with her between his legs and his arms around her. Their breathing found the same even rhythm. Leinos did not speak, but she could sense expectation in him. She felt it too—a pleasurable compulsion to continue the line of Enzo.

  Somewhere between here and now and the other side of the pass, dropping down a cliff, finding the horses, she’d dashed her heart and soul against an unseen and unknown force. Instead of breaking, she’d cracked open, become softer, more vulnerable—and yet—more resilient.

  A mysterious force had flowed inward. Perhaps it was the love and light The All had told her to choose. Or was it that something else had flowed away? Had she released her long-cherished doubt? Is that what had allowed her to call the horses, to make them hers?

  Would she ever understand?

  Did she need to?

  Leinos rested his chin on Lauren’s shoulder, inhaled her scent. She’d bathed after Ebro—Enzo, as she insisted—had gone back to wherever it was the gods and goddesses resided. But she still smelled of horse, probably always would. He liked it. It was the scent of Cirq itself.

  “Vraz brought us here,” he told her. “Me and Malek.”

  She turned to him in surprise. “He did? How? Where is he?”

  “Returned to Elaz. The rumblings from Tinnis are bad. The sage, Rezol, has gained control over King Rast and is working to excavate a terrible power buried long ago beneath a mountain—the Absolute. The sages in Elaz do not wish to confront him but fear waiting too long. They prefer to try and reason with him. If he recovers the Absolute…”

  Lauren elbowed him in the ribs. “If he recovers the Absolute, what?”

  “The sages are tight-lipped about what might happen.”

  Lauren sighed and settled more deeply against him. “But it won’t be good. Is Tinnis far away?”

  “Not far enough.”

  “That man, Cadell, he said he represented someone who would pay well for the horses’s power.”

  “He wore the colors of King Rast, but it is more likely he referred to the sage, Rezol.”

  “I shouldn’t have let him go.”

  “If Cadell is smart, he will disappear rather than return in shame to those who sent him.”

  Lauren nodded. “I hope that’s true. Anyway, we have enough of our own problems.”

  “True. When Vraz came to get us, there was another sage with him. He is bringing others. They should arrive soon. It is slow going, traveling the way they do. Quick when they are alone, but more difficult when towing a couple of non-sages.”

  She twisted to look at him again. “You came underground?”

  He nodded. “It was not the most pleasant of journeys.”

  She touched his cheek and he warmed to her touch.

  “I’m glad you’re here.” She faced the sunset again, hugged his arms where they held her waist. “Who are the others?”

  “Kadre is a young cousin to the queen, but he left court many courses ago because he did not agree with her plans for the country. Pagajera is his guardian. They are thrilled to see the return of the horses and will be helpful when we reach Lerom.”

  She sighed and sank more deeply against him before saying, “I look forward to meeting them.”

  Her thoughts had gone elsewhere—he could tell by her distracted tone—probably worrying over what would happen when they faced the queen. Should he tell her about Dan, the stranger he met at Kadre’s house? Leinos could not gauge whether she would embrace or reject the man when she saw him.

  After a while, she asked, “Are you okay with being disrequired?”

  He smiled at the top of her head, glad, for once, for the way her mind jumped topics.

  “Yes,” he said. “It was a relief. Now I can be your unofficial guardian, so long as Pheeso does not mind sharing that duty.” He pulled her tighter against his chest, took a deep breath. “Keeping you safe is the only way to keep my own heart safe. It has been so since the first night you arrived. I will be content to provide you comfort.”

  “Will you never let me out of your sight?”

  “Never.”

  “Then I, too, will be content.”

  They were quiet for a time, watching shadows shift and deepen as the sun slipped below the western peaks of the Bitter Reaches. Leinos kept his arms locked around her waist, and she rested her hands over his, entwining their fingers together, lightly tapping one, never quite still.

  “Is it enough?” she asked. “To provide comfort?”

  Leinos felt his chest constrict. He knew she had been joined with a man in her own world, and then had rightly broken that covenant when her mate had lain with another. She had not been able to trust again. When she had reached out for him, he had been forced to reject her because of his Guardian vow. He worried she still wished to return to her world, even if it meant Cirq would lose her horses again. He dared not hope she might consider joining with him.

  He had to clear his throat twice before answering. “Enough?”

  “Pheeso and Artepa were lifemates. There was more than comfort between them.”

  With difficulty, Leinos kept his breathing even. “They had pledged their lives to each other for always.”

  For a few moments, she did nothing more than trace lazy circles on the back of his hand with her fingertip. He thought he would jump out of his skin.

  “Is there a ceremony or contract?” she asked. “Or do you just agree you’re joined?”

  “You can agree, but here in Cirq, the covenant must eventually be formalized by a guardian, sage, or crone.”

  “So, Pheeso for instance, or this other sage that is coming, one of them could do it?”

  Lauren held her breath. They had shared a fur, comforted one another, and both of them wanted more. That was no secret.

  Leinos made her turn all the way around so they were facing. He raised one hand, barely cupping her cheek. She sensed a tremor going through him.

  “Why do you ask, sweet Horsecaller?”

  “Just curious,” she answered quickly, suddenly taken with a case of cold feet. “You know, I guess I’m going to be here for a while, so I should know your customs.”

  She didn’t doubt her feelings and his were plain on his face. Ther
e was no reason to dissemble.

  “I’m staying here, Leinos,” she whispered. “This is my home now.”

  He blinked once, twice, then hauled her to him so hard he knocked her breath away. His fingers threaded in her hair, cradling her head against his heart, which felt like it might come out of his chest. Her own pounded painfully against her ribs.

  “Will you join with me?” he asked.

  Lauren’s heart had inched up into her throat, making it impossible to speak. She squeezed her eyes against sudden tears and nodded.

  And then he held her at arm’s length to look into her eyes. She wiped her damp cheeks. He took her face and kissed her so gently, she almost began to cry again. It was devastating, that gentleness, the gratitude and desire it held. They’d kissed before, and it had been wild, but he’d held back. She knew that now. He’d held back then even while he’d possessed her with his mouth, because he couldn’t give all of himself to her.

  “I love you,” she said when he released her and felt the truth of that simple statement like she never had before.

  He put his arm around her shoulders and held her while looking out over the lake and the herd.

  “Until you appeared, like the very goddess incarnate, I thought I knew what it was to love. Believed that caring for my country to be all that was needed.” He combed his fingers through her hair. “I was wrong.”

  “And now?”

  “I feel as though I have known and loved you all of my life.”

  They agreed to ask Pheeso to perform the joining ceremony. Knowing she and Leinos would stay together speared through all her uncertainties.

  She had a future. Of that, she was sure.

  She had responsibilities to that future, too. The significance of being Horsecaller and carrying on the line truly began to permeate her consciousness. She had focused on saving the horses, not what would come after.

  Before darkness made the descent dangerous, they climbed down. Perhaps she might be able to go through the Ravery eventually, to let her family know she was all right, but only if she could be sure of returning home, to Cirq.

  Hand in hand, they walked to where Pindar rested. Each person they passed acknowledged her with a deferential bow. She didn’t think she would ever get used to it, preferred they view her as no more than a fellow soldier. That made her laugh. She would never be like them, but could hardly deny the impact calling the horses and walking with the first Horsecaller—her great-great-grandfather—had had on her. It had certainly changed her perspective; she couldn’t fight the effect it had on her Guard.

  She went to Pindar and put her arms around his neck. He tucked his nose toward her, held her against his chest. Leinos stood by, then tentatively moved closer to also give the horse a hug from the opposite side.

  “Should I have asked your permission to join with Lauren, first?”

  Pindar turned his attention to the man, and Lauren stepped back. The horse checked around for treats, nibbling at pockets, then moved his big muzzle right into Leinos’s face. The former Supreme Guardian, fearless defender of all, froze in place, eyes wide.

  “Breathe with him,” Lauren said.

  Leinos did. They exchanged a few breaths, then Pindar licked his cheek, and turned to her. Took you long enough, his eyes clearly said.

  The horses of Cirq had called him long before they called her. Her fears had prevented her from hearing, kept her from believing she was the Horsecaller, that she had something to anticipate. Pindar had helped her believe, trust, and love.

  Since arriving in Cirq, she’d barely been able to face each day’s challenge, to keep herself and Pindar safe. She had not allowed herself to think beyond that. Now, her future unfurled, and she greeted it gladly, accompanied by a good horse and a good man.

  And counsel from the ghost of a long-dead Horsecaller to make more Horsecallers.

  THE END

  Don't miss The Horsecaller: Book Two where Lauren finds keeping the horses—and her heart—safe is more difficult than she ever imagined. As if the unpleasant visitors from the sea and unsavory invaders from the west weren't bad enough, when a powerful sage bent on revenge threatens everything she holds dear, it is her heart that must be sacrificed. Coming in 2015!

  About the Author

  Candace Carrabus spent her formative years in the saddle, just imagining. She still rides horses and writes stories—frequently simultaneously—and many of these stories are imbued with the magic and mystery horses have brought to her life. She shares a farm in the midwest with her family, which also includes several four-legged critters.

  Books by Candace Carrabus

  On the Buckle, Dream Horse Mystery #1

  The Man, The Dog, His Owner & Her Lover, A Witting Woman novella

  The Good Horse, The Bad Man & The Ugly Woman, A Witting Woman novella

  Connect with Candace Online

  Website:

  http://candacecarrabus.com

  Facebook:

  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCandaceCarrabus

  Newsletter:

  http://candacecarrabus.com

  Soul of a Vampire

  By

  Lauralynn Elliott

  A vampire searching for what was taken from him.

  A woman who may have the answers.

  Nikolas longs for his soul even as the darkness in him tries to take over. Tessa searches frantically for a way to help Nickolas before it’s too late. Together they fight physical and emotional battles in their quest for the one thing that could allow them to be together. Will they make it before time runs out?

  Some Words of Thanks

  There are so many people to thank for all the wonderful things they do, I just can’t name them all. I would surely leave someone out. But I do want to thank a few very special people.

  I want to thank my cover artist, Anya Kelleye for the great job she does with my covers and for putting up with my pickiness. I also want to thank her and her father, Rob, for their help in coming up with riddles for the challenges in this book. It made it much easier to figure out what the challenges were actually going to be.

  I want to thank J. R. Pearse Nelson and Ruth Ann Nordin for all their help in getting this book ready.

  I want to thank my mom for all her support and for reading all my books.

  And last in the list, but first in my heart, I want to thank my husband for putting up with me being too busy to do the things I should be doing, but that he ends up doing. I hope he realizes what a big difference it makes in my writing life.

  Chapter One

  Nikolas whistled softly as he walked to the park where he was supposed to meet his blind date. The sun was just beginning to set over the lake, and the sky was filled with color. He smiled, and thought about how the sky was like God’s canvas, painted with a Heavenly paintbrush. He loved living here in the small town of Cora Harbor, North Carolina, where almost everything was within walking distance.

  Nik thought the park was an odd place to meet someone for the first time, and wondered why she had insisted on this venue rather than a nice restaurant or a movie. His friend, Jonathan, had laughed it off, and explained that Marianna was a simple, outdoors type of girl and would probably prefer going for a walk. Still, it was kind of strange for a first date. Nik hadn’t met Marianna, but Jon had shown him a picture, and she was a beautiful woman with long, blond curls framing her flawless face with its porcelain skin.

  He sat down on a bench by the edge of the lake to wait for her. The sun was lower now, and the lights in the park were coming on. He noticed that the bulb in the light closest to the bench was broken out, and the little copse of trees nearby was deep in shadows. The park was beginning to empty out as darkness fell, and Nik checked his watch and wondered if he had been stood up. He felt a little pang of disappointment. His love life hadn’t been the best in the world lately. He was a little too ‘moral’ for most women’s taste, but he refused to jump in bed with someone just to scratch an itch. Intimacy was supposed to m
ean something, but most people these days didn’t agree with him, so it made it really hard to find a good woman to spend time with.

  Nikolas stood up and was about to leave when he saw a figure step out from the shadow of the trees. Without the light to illuminate the area where the person stood, it was hard to tell who it was.

  “Marianna?” he asked hesitantly.

  He heard the sound of laughter. “Yes, Nikolas, it’s me. I’m sorry I’m late, but I wasn’t able to get out any earlier. Forgive me?”

  He moved closer to her, trying to make out her features. “Of course, it’s fine. Would you like to go to dinner? Surely you don’t want to just spend time in the park on our first date.”

  She laughed again. “First date? Does that mean you assume there will be more?”

  “No, I just meant….”

  “I’m teasing you, Nikolas. Come closer.”

  “Why don’t you come sit down by the lake? We can talk for awhile, and then maybe you’ll agree to have dinner with me. Why are you staying in the shadows? Is something wrong?”

  “Of course nothing is wrong, silly boy. But I want to show you something. Come to me,” she said.

  For some reason, Nikolas felt compelled to do as she said. He didn’t know why, because this whole thing felt very odd. At the same time, he was very intrigued and even a little excited. He felt like this was an adventure. It was strange because he was usually so cautious, and suddenly Marianna didn’t seem like the kind of woman he wanted to be with. But as odd as this was, he found himself moving toward her. His mind was screaming that there was something very wrong with this, but something deep inside of him answered this siren’s call.