by Ciara Lake
“Kristal and Kiley are lately all about flowers,” he whispered near her ear. A buffet was being set up. Kara and Kalinda were directing the kitchen staff. A breathtaking portrait of Saleeya and Kael was tucked behind one of the tables. It was a gift to Kael for his birthday. “Look at the portrait Klayvin made for them. It is magnificent.”
“It is stunning. When this family has a party, they really have a party.” Zalora pulled Val over to look closely at the painting. “Klayvin is so talented.” She admired it. Kleave rushed over, covering it with a black cloth.
“We’ve got to keep it a surprise.” He smiled. Val nodded at his uncle.
“I thought our joining ceremony was awesome then our child’s blessing was spectacular. But this is even more impressive. It’s unbelievable. This is fabulous.” Zalora held Val’s hand as they walked around taking in all the decor. Her hands were damp with excitement. “The food smells and looks wonderful. I’m hungry,” Val whispered close to her ear. She gripped his hand tightly in her excitement.
“I am, too.” She looked in the direction of the buffet. “Yum.”
“Looks like good stuff.” Talia, Val’s oldest sister, was instructing the food servers. Musicians were setting up, preparing to serenade the guests. Salina, one of Val’s sisters, was playing with the musicians. Salina was very gifted in music. She composed wonderful pieces of instrumental music. “Salina has a special song she has composed for our parents,” Val said proudly.
There was a dance floor in the middle of the room. Two of Val’s youngest sisters were already dancing about, twirling each other. The head table sat at the front of the room, four settings at the table for Kael, Saleeya, and Kael’s parents. Carlista was keeping Kael and Saleeya busy for a moment while everything was getting set up. Saleeya’s parents were on their way. They always ran late to everything. It was expected as their norm. Plus, they were getting quite elderly as they were fully Earthen, yet in good health.
“Hey, Mother and Father are coming. Everyone be quiet.” Kari rushed into the room waving at everyone. She was only twelve, full of excitement. “Grandfather and Grandmother are with them.” Kari started to giggle uncontrollably. She clapped her hands, as she jumped up and down. As soon as Saleeya and Kael walked into the room every one yelled surprise. Saleeya’s face lit up with a huge smile. Kael pulled her into his arms, hugging her, smiling from ear to ear.
“What a surprise. This is terrific.” Kael looked around the room, his eyes wide, too.
“Happy birthday, Father!” Kari ran up to her parents, hugging them both.
“This is so wonderful,” Saleeya gushed, hugging her daughter back. The other younger ones ran up, too.
“I helped, I helped.” Kari danced happily around them. “Wonderful.” Saleeya kissed Kari. Their older daughters surrounded Kari and Val’s parents. The musicians started playing light music as Kari walked her parents over to the head table. Everyone clapped as Val’s parents took their seats at the head table. After his parents were seated, Val took her hand and walked to the front of the room near the head table. He took a full crystal glass of water and held it up. “Mother, Father, as your only son with my lovely mate.” He winked at his sisters. “I was given the honor of wishing you this blessing of Xian.” He grinned. “To Xian.” He held his glass higher. “May you continue to be fruitful and prosper. May happiness touch your hearts forever. We all love you very much.” He held up his drink in a salute.
This family’s so big. Zalora looked around in amazement. She would never get used to so many people being related. Kael stood then nodded to his son. Val embraced Zalora as he drank down his glass.
“Thank you, my children, and to all of my family. This is a big surprise. We’re thrilled.” Saleeya stood next to him, smiling. Tears were in her eyes.
“I am very happy.” Saleeya wiped her face with a napkin. Kael kissed her fully on the mouth. The family hooted for them. When they sat down, dinner began. The rest of the night was spent eating, talking, and dancing. This party had every element, which made it fabulous. Salina’s composition was magnificent. At its conclusion, Kliven and Kael jumped up with their applause, and everyone followed.
As long as it’s uneventful, this is a wonderful evening. Zalora glanced around the room as if looking for something or someone hiding in the corners ready to ruin the Braeden celebration. It happened from time to time. But to her great happiness, all was going well. Toward the end of the night, Zalora danced with Kade. He’d been dancing all night long with every woman in the room. Kade loved to be the center of attention. He tended to always be anyway. He was suave, full of life, and ornery as ever. The man never got tired. At times, he was as mischievous as a youngster would act.
“Hello, Zaza, you look lovely as usual.” Kade gave her a devilish grin as he swirled her around the dance floor. “Your dress is awesome.” The music was a faster pace than she was used to. She loved the way her silk dress whirled around her ankles. Every time she looked up, Val grinned at her. She smiled brighter. He was sending her private messages with his sultry looks.
“I’m interrupting Val’s wooing of you?” Kade whispered in her ear. “Don’t you get enough of him already?”
“No. I like his wooing.” Zalora looked up at Kade. “He’s very good at what he does.”
“Yes, I can imagine.” Kade winked. “No, I don’t want to imagine.” He shook his head. “It gives me a headache.”
“Thank you for saying I look nice.” Zalora smiled. “I love this dress.”
“You’re welcome, little sister-niece.”
“I hear you’re getting ready to go on a mission,” she asked as the music slowed. She was relieved to slow down. Her hair was getting too curly from the humidity she was making.
“Yes, I’ll be gone for a while. Jerrian and I are both going on this mission. We’re going to the Zenia region of our galaxy. I’ve never been there, so it’ll be very interesting.”
“The Zennites control that region?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “The fires of Zennite.” His eyes sparkled. “I’ve always wanted to see them.”
“I understand most of the population lives beneath their planet’s surface.”
“Yes, I believe so.” Kade twirled her again.
“Be careful. They may not be Realmist, but they can be just as dangerous despite their beautiful fires.”
“Yes, I know. They like to enslave others to mine for them.” He chuckled.
“What’s funny about that?” She put her hands on her hips.
“Nothing, Zalora, I’m just being…me. I laugh a lot. Jerrian will keep us out of harm’s way. He has a knack for that. Plus, I’d make a bad slave.”
“I hope so.” Zalora looked down at her fingers. “I’m glad I can talk to you before you leave. I had this dream about this Tallusian woman I wanted to tell you about.”
“Oh yeah? What about her.”
“She has purple eyes...”
“Like yours.” He grinned. “Very nice, I like your eyes.” He looked over her head at Val. “But a question for you, Zaza, do you dream of women often? Should I get on Val for not doing his job as a mate?” Zalora felt herself blush. “This is a shame if my brother-nephew isn’t fulfilling you as he should. Mates are to be satisfied. I understand there’s nothing which surpasses the pleasure shared between mates.”
“Stop, you.” She slapped at his arm. “You’re so bad.” She shook her head. “You enjoy making me blush.”
“I do. Yes, I’m bad.” His eyes twinkled. Zalora decided to ignore him.
“I’ve been having a dream of her for a while. She’s very pretty with long, wavy black hair. For a long time, at least a year, she has been trying to tell me something, just today I understood what she was saying to me.”
“Oh, I like pretty women. But all the prettiest women I know are related to me.” He looked down at her then around the room. “Am I to understand this woman and this dream have something to do with me?”
“Yes, in
the dream she gave me a message for you.” He looked at her as if she were insane. “I’m not crazy. She really did.”
“No, of course you’re not crazy.” Kade shook his head. “You’re Val’s mate.” He put his hand to his mouth as to wipe it, hiding a huge a grin. “And my favorite sister-niece.”
“So stop laughing. This is an important message. You need to be serious.”
“Okay, little niece. Tell me what the message is?”
“She told me to tell you to trust her. You must, no matter what things seem, trust her.” Zalora looked down at her hands. “That’s all I know. I trust her. She’s like me.”
“Like you? You mean she’s Tallusian? Does she have your powers?” He watched her.
“Yes, I can feel her power.”
“She wants me to tell you no matter what, you have to trust her.”
“Yes, I got that. Does she say why or when?” He gazed down at her.
“No.” Zalora shrugged. “I just felt it was urgent for me to tell you this.”
“Okay, you think she’s a real woman?” His eyes danced with amusement. “This is more than a dream?”
“Yes, please don’t take this lightly.” He put his hands up in surrender.
“I’m not.”
“I know this is very important. Perhaps your life depends on it.”
“You got this all from your dream.” He looked skeptical as he crossed his arms, studying her.
“Yes.” Zalora stopped to stand in the middle of the dance floor looking up at Kade. Taking her hand, he walked her over to Val then kissed her cheek.
“My dear Zalora, I’ll take what you say seriously. I will for sure watch out for the Zennites.” He kissed the back of her hand. “You’re a remarkable woman. My brother-nephew is very lucky. I leave tomorrow.” He nodded to Val.
“Be careful.” Zalora touched his arm as he went to move away.
“I plan to. You take care of my best friend.” He nodded toward Val.
“I will.” Kara dashed up to them to drag Kade off to dance. The music had gotten louder. Zalora’s ears were hurting. Val’s parents and grandparents had already retired. Kael’s father had been a rascal, teasing Saleeya until he swept her off her feet then took her off from the party to their own party.
“Are you tired?” Val whispered.
“Yes.” He kissed the back of her neck as he gently moved her hair away.
“Let’s go. We can continue this party in our suite. That’s the best party.” Hand in hand, they strolled down the corridor, her body tingling with the rising passion she knew lay beneath her mate’s cool exterior. They passed the massive verandas opening to the outside. This palace allowed the outside in. She glanced out as they passed. A shudder of unease rolled down her spine as she stared at the flashing lightning. The heart of the storm was getting closer. She jumped at the boom of thunder, her gaze darting through the shadows. Val tucked her under his arm to comfort her. Inhaling, she could smell the coming rain. It intensified her uncertainty. Through her lashes she glanced at her mate. He seemed unmoved by the approaching storm. For some reason she felt a pang in her heart.
“Val, thank you for saving me.” She looked up at him. “Thank you for sharing your world with me, your family. You’ve made me very happy.” She pressed a kiss to his jaw.
“I love you, too, mate. I never knew true happiness until you came into my life.” Val stopped, sweeping her up into his arms he carried her to their bed. Before their bedroom door swung shut, she turned to stare out into the darkened corridor. A whisper called to her. The image of purple eyes full of pain, of terror, swam before her eyes a moment before then the door slammed shut. Something was out there—and not even her lover’s embrace could protect them from the evil hidden within the shadows.
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Reading and writing is a wonderful diversion from an often-difficult world. I love to create my own stories. It's exciting to create brand new worlds and characters.
In sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal stories, I can invent wonderful places and people. Anything is possible in these genres, it's limitless. I'm able to create an escape into a special world filled with unique and fantastic things.
A high school teacher inspired me to write. However, instead of initially pursuing my writing career I became a lawyer. I work in divorce court, so erotic romance is a great escape. There can be true love and happy-endings, at least on my pages.
My two children and I have two good-humored dogs we share our home with. I have traveled and lived all over the world, and these experiences have given me great creative ideas. I look forward to creating many more adventures in romance.
For all titles by Ciara Lake, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/ciara-lake
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
About the Author
