by Dianna Love
Storm headed to the center to join Evalle. He would never tire of her joy. He could feel excitement rolling off her as they prepared to fly this time where she’d been nervous as a cat in a rocking chair factory on the flight out.
Hell, even his energy surged now that they were bonded.
They’d be linked forever.
He could sleep at night now, well, as long as she was no more than an arm’s length away.
Evalle had dropped her things on the first chair she reached, then continued on to plop down on the sofa. She leaned over to take her boots off, saying, “This isn’t as fast as Air Daegan, but it’s much more fun and comfortable.”
“What is Air Daegan, Mrs. Tso?”
Evalle’s head swung up to face the flight attendant who had followed Storm as they began moving toward the runway.
Storm saved Evalle by explaining. “She’s talking about a friend who transports us from time to time.” He had to tell the truth in a way that covered her words, or he’d pay a price.
The woman smiled. “How nice. What can I get you?”
“We’ll wait for liftoff,” Storm told her. “We’ll be fine until then.”
She nodded and returned to the galley area where she pulled a privacy drape across the entrance, leaving them alone, just as he’d requested.
Evalle leaned forward. “I must’ve been zonked when we flew out. I don’t remember a curtain to close off the cabin.”
“They didn’t use it last time,” Storm replied then noticed Evalle’s knee bouncing.
He put his hand on her knee and she stilled. He asked, “What’s going on?”
For a moment she looked as if she wouldn’t tell him, then held her hand up in a way he’d seen when she heard telepathically from someone.
When her gaze shot to him, she said, “Trey’s voice blasted into my head. I think this bonding has dialed up the power of my telepathy.” She grinned at her new powers.
Storm laughed. “Our energy connection might take some getting used to.”
“Not. A. Problem,” she answered with glee.
“Why did Trey call you?”
She said, “Oh, shoot. That’s right. He said Daegan needs us in Atlanta. I told him we were on the way.”
Storm hated that she’d have to return to the streets to fight preternaturals so soon, but his mate could handle it and he’d be with her.
He lowered his voice and asked, “What’s the problem?”
She replied just as softly. “Some preternatural is amping up the problems with exposure to the humans.”
“They were doing that when we left.” Storm didn’t get the new urgency. “Loki torched one of the bounty hunters in a Tribunal meeting when the guy admitted to intentionally exposing us.” Before leaving today, Bidziil had told Storm how things were heating up in Atlanta and people were demanding the government find out what was going on.
Storm did his best to get Evalle packed without her seeing any videos. They had to face all that soon enough.
He figured if Daegan hadn’t sent Tristan to teleport them home immediately, then they had a window of time to fly back, which Storm needed.
He had to have this moment with Evalle first.
She argued, “Yes, but we didn’t know for sure the humans had enough information to believe the videos weren’t hoaxes. Evidently it’s getting bad and Daegan needs all of us. Trey says the dragon is running himself into the ground to handle this. Tristan told Trey he thinks Daegan is at risk if we don’t circle the wagons and come up with a plan.” She gave a sad sigh. “Sorry, sweetheart.”
Storm ran a hand down her cheek. “Don’t be. It was just a matter of time until this erupted.” He asked, “Is Trey through talking to you?”
“Yep. I told him I’d let him know as soon as we made it home, but there’s nothing we can do until then.”
Storm relaxed. “Good. This flight is ours, a little sliver of time we don’t have to share with anyone. First, back to what you were stressed about right before you heard from Trey?”
“I knew you wouldn’t forget,” she grumbled. After delaying another moment, she said, “Are people going to call me Mrs. Tso?”
He hadn’t expected that. He asked his carefully. “Do you want them to?”
“Not really.”
“Why not?” He cringed. That came out too quick.
She shrugged self-consciously. “Because we’re not married so it sounds like I’m pretending to be someone I’m not.”
“You’re right.” He drew a breath to tell her something else. “You should never pretend to be anyone else. There is no woman like you, which is why I want you to have this.” He lifted a wooden box from his pocket that had traveled with him a long time. A Dine geographic design had been inlaid on the lid with different colored wood. One of the few things he had of his father’s, but the gift inside had been crafted a month ago.
Shocked, Evalle opened the box with trembling hands and stared at the silver ring with a black jaguar and green-eyed gryphon intertwined.
With night outside, he pulled her glasses off so he could see her face. “You are my mate and our bond is eternal. We live in two worlds. Ours and that of humans. I want all in both to know you are mine. Will you marry me, sweetheart?”
She gave him a wobbly smile. “Yes. I don’t have a ring for you.”
“I’ll wear my father’s opal, if that’s okay with you.”
“Of course it is. That’s a great idea.” She blew out a breath and said, “We should’ve gotten married when I had the dress Bidziil loaned me. You may never see me in one again.”
“I don’t care if you ever wear another. You were beautiful last night. You’re beautiful in jeans, boots, and your BDU shirts. But you’re stunning in nothing at all.” He smoothed her hair and added, “We couldn’t have our marriage ceremony in Arizona.”
Her happiness dimmed. “Why not?”
“Feenix wasn’t there. This will be a family event with all of our friends.”
“Oh!” Evalle cried out and lunged at him. She wrapped her arms around Storm and whispered the sexy things she planned to do with her future husband when they got home.
Ever his hellion, she had another surprise coming.
Storm cupped her bottom and nipped her ear, then asked, “Have you ever heard of the Mile High Club, sweetheart?”
A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR:
Thank you for reading my books. If you enjoyed this story, please help other readers find this book by posting a review.
Join my newsletter list at www.AuthorDiannaLove.com to find out first about the new spinoff series, TREOIR DRAGON CHRONICLES. Everyone on my private list (I NEVER share emails) will receive a little surprise right before the first chronicle story is released.
(If the link does not work, because technology sometimes gets a migraine, email [email protected] with BELADOR NEWSLETTER LINK in the subject line and we’ll send you the link.)
For SIGNED PRINT copies of Dianna’s books visit www.DiannaLoveSignedBooks.com where you can preorder new books.
The Belador series is an ongoing story line, so you may want to read the books in order. Available in ebook/print/audio.
Book 1: Blood Trinity
Book 2: Alterant
Book 3: The Curse
Book 4: Rise Of The Gryphon
Book 5: Demon Storm
Book 6: Witchlock
Book 7: Rogue Belador
Book 8: Dragon King Of Treoir
Book 9: Belador Cosaint
Book 10: Treoir Dragon Hoard
Book 10.5: Evalle and Storm
Tristan’s Escape: A Belador Novella
NOTE ABOUT THIS STORY FROM DIANNA
Finally, Evalle and Storm are bonded! I’ve known this story from the point I created the series. I’ve received so many questions about Storm’s background and wanted a book specifically for these two where you would learn more about his father’s side of his blood.
Thank you for allowing me to take
some artistic license with things like casinos on the Navajo reservation to be able to tell this story. Any mistakes are my own and possibly are due to my need for a little flexibility to make the story work.
The uncle’s casino and clan community are fictional, but I pulled information from casinos on the Navajo Reservation and other tribal lands. I’ve seen two sides of that story for a long time and wanted to not take one side, but to show the struggle for both sides. The Navajo, also known as the Dine people, held out longer than other tribes (it appeared they were the last major tribe to bring casinos to their land). I have the sense that waiting so long was a good thing, because that gave them the opportunity for a faster learning curve by observing other tribal casinos. I think it also allowed them to plan for how to better make it work for their people.
I often hear people outside of these reservations talk about how Native Americans are making a killing with casinos. When that off-the-cuff opinion is said to me, I share that over half the native population does not have a job and some of the many issues they face to survive and succeed. I don’t judge anyone else and never form an opinion on anything without all the information. As for the Navajo and other native tribes, I feel only those living that life every day can speak to the pros and cons of any decision affecting them.
Storm has shared blood of two native groups, which allowed me to develop someone unique.
Long before he walked into his first scene, I kept seeing his story unfold in my mind as he was forced to fight as the demon bred by his Ashaninka witch doctor mother, which conflicted with his Navajo side. He never held that against the Ashaninka, because there is good and bad in any community. I liked the idea of a man raised to be evil, then having his soul stolen, to rise above all of that and end up being the one person who could reach Evalle, an equally damaged soul with a good heart.
They’ve been two of my most favorite characters to write.
Before you start sending me “Are we going to see them again?” messages, the answer is yes.
They’ll continue to play prominent roles in the Belador books, as will the rest of the gang, and appear when needed in the new Treoir Dragon Chronicles series coming up next. But it was time to complete Evalle and Storm’s bonding. I hope you enjoyed their journey to this point. Thank you for following the Belador series and allowing me to give life to so many stories in my head.
More books from Dianna Love
For SIGNED PRINT copies of Dianna’s books visit www.DiannaLoveSignedBooks.com where you can preorder new books. Join the contact list on this site to be notified of print preorders as soon as they are available. Print preorders are shipped 2+ weeks early and signed + personalized (if desired).
The Belador series is an ongoing urban fantasy (same characters in the same world), which is best read in order. Novellas can be read as stand alones.
Book 1: Blood Trinity
Book 2: Alterant
Book 3: The Curse
Book 4: Rise Of The Gryphon
Book 5: Demon Storm
Book 6: Witchlock
Book 7: Rogue Belador
Book 8: Dragon King Of Treoir
Book 9: Belador Cosaint
Book 10: Treoir Dragon Hoard
Book 10.5: Evalle and Storm
Tristan’s Escape: A Belador Novella
The League of Gallize Shifters series is stand-alone paranormal romances written in an larger urban fantasy style world.
Book 1: Gray Wolf Mate
Book 2: Mating A Grizzly
Book 3: Stalking His Mate
The Slye Temp romantic thriller series is ‘completed’ (great for binging!)
Prequel: Last Chance To Run
Book 1: Nowhere Safe
Book 2: Honeymoon To Die For
Book 3: Kiss The Enemy
Book 4: Deceptive Treasures
Book 5: Stolen Vengeance
Book 6: Fatal Promise
Dianna Love and Mary Buckham created the sci-fi/fantasy Red Moon Trilogy, which is appropriate for Hunger Games readers. (Order signed/personalized print copies at www.MicahCaidaSignedBooks.com)
Book 1: Time Trap (free for limited time)
Book 2: Time Return
Book 3: Time Lock
For more on this series, visit www.MicahCaida.com
AUTHOR’S BIO
New York Times Bestseller Dianna Love once dangled over a hundred feet in the air to create unusual marketing projects for Fortune 500 companies. She now writes high-octane romantic thrillers, young adult and urban fantasy. Fans of the bestselling Belador urban fantasy series will be thrilled to know more books are coming after soon with the new Treoir Dragon Chronicles. Dianna’s Slye Temp sexy romantic thriller series wrapped up with Gage and Sabrina’s book–Fatal Promise–perfect for bingers! She has new League of Gallize Shifters paranormal romance series. Look for her books in print, e-book and audio. On the rare occasions Dianna is out of her writing cave, she tours the country on her BMW motorcycle searching for new story locations. Dianna lives in the Atlanta, GA area with her husband, who is a motorcycle instructor, and with a tank full of unruly saltwater critters.
Visit her website at
www.AuthorDiannaLove.com or www.DiannaLoveSignedBooks.com
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
No book happens without a great supporting cast. My husband leads that list. He’s always willing to do anything from cooking and driving me to locations (so I can type as he drives) for research to not calling the guys in white coats after listening to my sometimes incoherent mutterings as I walk through the house. He is my rock.
I want to give a shout out to those who have edited and beta read for me – Jodi Henley, Judy Carney, Stacey Krug, Elizabeth Neal, Sherry Arnold and Jennifer Cazares. I don’t think any one person can catch everything, but these ladies have been a tremendous help with their sharp eyes.
I need to take a moment to give a special thanks to Joyce Ann McLaughlin who is often an early reader, but always my audio editor as the story is narrated. Stephen R. Thorne has done an outstanding job narrating. I found him because you, the fans, told me you loved him – you were spot on. These two make it possible for me to deliver the very best quality audio I can. I really appreciate those two, and Blackstone Audio, who distributes my Belador audiobooks.
Sending out a big hug and thanks to Candace Fox, Kimber Mirabella, Leiha Mann and Sharon Livingston Griffiths, who have been wonderfully supportive any time I need help. They’re bright women who have all lead interesting lives.
Once again, Kim Killion climbed inside my head and pulled out exactly what I wanted for a cover. I love all her covers, I just love mine more. (lol) Jennifer Litteken and her team continue to perform their magic on my book formatting, always doing a great job.
Last, and definitely not least, I want to thank you, my readers. When I first sat down to write many years ago, I never imagined anyone would read my books. I just wanted to see if I could do it. Because of you, I’m still doing it. Much love to all of you.
Now, I’m back in the cave working on a very special spinoff of the Belador series – TREOIR DRAGON CHRONICLES.
Thank you,
Dianna
