A thoughtful frown spreads across her lips as she lowers her hand. “Probably not.”
“I rest my case.”
Nalani let’s out a heavy sigh. “Fine, but you’re not off the hook for lying to me.”
“And I intend to make that up to you starting with—” I extend my hand toward her. “‘Ello, Chancell Kealan Corkoran. I don’t believe we’ve met.”
Her lips quirk up to the side like she’s fighting a smile. “Nalani Kirikiri. I think I may have heard of you before.”
“Really? I can’t fathom why.”
Nalani finally cracks a smile, but it disappears just as fast as she pulls her hand from mine. “Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer someone like her?”
My brow furrows. “Like who, my mother?”
“No, miss tall, blond, and perfect.”
“Nalani, one of the reasons I love you is because you’re everything Amber isn’t.”
Her lips part in surprise. “You love me?”
A slight blush spreads across my cheeks. “I…uh…is that a prob—?” Nalani jumps into my arms. Her legs wrapping around my hips, her body colliding with mine. I cup her ass, bringing our bodies closer together as we bump into the wall. Her lips press against mine, and the heat of earlier surges through my body. “Nalani…” I moan against her lips.
“Hmm?” she murmurs, her hand sliding across the back of my neck.
My body responds to her touch instantly, and if it had been a Terra-month ago I probably would have said fekk it and blown off the show, but… “We still have to do the second half of the show.”
“We can be quick,” she says as the fingers of her other hand slip under the edge of my costume. Running up across the bare skin at the small of my back. “I know this very private dressing room,” she suggests before pressing her lips to mine.
“Quit pashing you two, that holo field is about to come down any Terra-sec,” Tarou admonishes us as ze pops hir head into the dressing room.
I pull my lips from Nalani’s even though every fiber of my body is screaming to just let this continue. “Look, I promise as soon as the show’s over, I’ll fekk you silly any place you like, but Tarou’s right, we’ve a show to do,” I whisper against her ear.
An amused smile quirks Nalani’s lips up to the side as I set her back down on her feet. “Look at you, all responsible-like. When did that happen?”
“Oh I don’t know, sometime between you bossing me around, and threatening to jet me,” I answer as I exit the dressing room, and dash down the corridor.
“Hey, I did not threaten to jet you!”
Nalani finally catches up with me as I enter the trap room. “I never did say thanks,” I point out as I pull myself up onto the edge of the tiny spacecraft set piece.
“For what?” she replies as I hold out my hand to help her up.
“For taking a gambit on me,” I answer softly, pulling her up and straight into my arms.
She stares into my eyes for a long moment before she glances away. “Well, you did look rather pathetic when you showed up with Joaquim that day.”
I release my hold on her, climbing into the cockpit of the spacecraft. “And yet you continued to torment me relentlessly.”
“Oh admit it, you liked it,” she challenges as she slips into the cockpit, straddling me. And then as if to prove her point, she moves her hips forward.
My body responds instantly. “Be nice, or it won’t be my fault if this show gets X-rated.”
Nalani grins at me wickedly. “Bet your mother would love that.”
I snort. “She’d probably ban us from ever setting foot in Sashai Var again.”
“Wait, can she actually do that?”
I open my mouth to respond, but Tarou’s voice comes on our mini coms. “Guys, I heard Arshim, the new proprietor of the Shadowdust is here, maybe we should get the show started before he decides to jet off?”
Nalani taps her finger to her ear. “Give the dancers the sixty Terra-sec warning, and cue the multimedia.”
I suck in a breath and let it out slowly, trying to forget the fact that my sister, and Uncle Jaime, and possibly even my mother are out there in the audience.
“Do you think Arshim liked the first act?” Nalani asks softly.
“He loved it, and he’s going to award you a contract.”
“Haha very funny,” she scoffs, rolling her eyes.
“I’m being perfectly serious.”
Nalani gives me a dubious look. “How can you possibly know that? I’m not even sure what he looks like. Or that Arshim’s even a he.”
“Because I…well I haven’t been completely honest.” Nalani gives me a wary look as her whole body goes rigid, and I continue on quickly. “I really was scouting for talent back at Club 2020 on Awai Sashai, but not because I work for Arshim. I mean Arshim doesn’t even exist. Okay, well technically he does, and he’s me and Jaime—but anyways, as of five Terra-weeks ago, I became the proprietor of the Shadowdust Performance Hall, and— Why are you smiling like that?”
“Because you’re a Chancell. You could have easily gotten a thousand dancers to line up for auditions like that,” she says with the snap of her fingers.
“And that’s precisely why I created Arshim. I didn’t want people to come because I’m the son of a chancellarius. I wanted them to come because it’s a fekkin grand show.”
Nalani gives me an odd look. “Why were you looking for talent in a place like Club 2020?”
“Because as I’ve recently been reminded, the brightest stars are often hidden where you’d least expect them.”
Nalani gives me a playfully dubious look. “Oh really? And who reminded you of that?”
“Well you see, this crazy girl…”
A crooked smile spreads across her lips. “Crazy was she?”
“Completely,” I answer with a huge grin as the stage begins to rise. “But you still haven’t answered my question.”
“What question?” Nalani hisses quietly.
“Do you accept the contract?
“If you need me to spell it out for you, then you still haven’t learned a thing, Moon Boy,” Nalani whispers alluringly as she leans forward.
“Maybe I just want an excuse for more private lessons.”
“Oh, I think that can be arranged after the show, unless you had other plans?” she questions, her lips brushing mine as the stage completes its ascent and locks into place.
“Nope. I’m all yours,” I promise as the stage lights come up.
THE END
The Adventure Continues…
in THE MARKED ONES.
Before there were Kealan & Nalani there were The Marked Ones, Kat Vancil’s original Daemons series.
A daemon princess, super-tech, and secrets that might get you killed?
Patrick is about to get the one thing he has always wanted. He just didn’t expect her to be a daemon princess. Or that her tech-genius best friend, and secret world would be coming along for the ride.
Be careful what you wish for…it might just get you killed.
Sneak peek of THE MARKED ONES
Sure, why not. What have we got to lose? is probably the understatement of the year as far as last words go. So why, in the name of all reason, did I say yes? I’m still not one-hundred percent sure, but maybe it was because Nualla was beyond tempting, and I was dying to know her secrets. Or that I was angry with my parents for never being there, and I wanted someone to notice me. Or that I was really, really drunk. But it was probably because, when fate gives you the one thing you have always wanted, you grab hold of it and never let go.
And even though I’m bleeding out on the floor, and my vision has become blurry, I can’t bring myself to regret my choice, because for one shining moment, I had everything. And so as I breathe what might possibly be my last breath, my answer still is, and always will be…
Yes.
Continue Your Reading Adventure at
www.ShadowdustAndWonderlust.com/Marked-Ones
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About Kat Vancil
A valiant crusader for inclusive fiction, Kat Vancil forges diverse story elements into adventures that amuse, embolden, and leave her readers spellbound. She currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, their kitty studio-mate Crash the Stampede, and eight overfull bookcases. And when not crafting fantastical tales of daemon royalty, super-tech, and shifter deities, she can usually be found frolicking in general geekiness.
Read More from Kat Vancil at
www.ShadowdustAndWonderlust.com
Midnight At Andromeda’s
Tessa McFionn
Come for the drinks. Stay for the fireworks.
Karyna had spent her life trying to get her father, Chancellor General Bartak of the Wyldren Kindred, to see her as more than just a girl. When she overhears his plans to hand her to their sworn enemy, the Lavourne Dynasty, as a peace treaty, she sneaks out and stows away on board the Blue Star pleasure luxury line, LS Quantum. Without a dime to her name, she stumbles into a dark, secluded bar, hoping to hide from the unwanted marriage.
Settling down was definitely not in the cards as far as Marqaz, Highprince of the Lavourne Dynasty, was concerned. Yet he was granted a reprieve before he would be shackled for the rest of his days to his enemy’s daughter and he found entertainment in any variety working as a bartender on board LS Quantum. But nothing could have prepared him for the unexpected appearance of his affianced in his off-the-beaten-path club.
Unable to resist the sensual connection, Karyna takes a chance on a night with the handsome bartender. Will the stars align for a happily ever after, or will a hidden truth shatter forever?
A Time to Think
“Why else do you think I kept a lone girl child? At least a bitch can be useful as a treaty’s dowry.”
Karyna choked back the bitter sting of tears, dashing her arm across her eyes. The harsh words of her father still rang in her ears and drowned out the roaring engines around her. It had been a week since she stumbled upon that fateful conversation. She had completed her duties as Ambassador Prime, translated loosely to “palace tour guide,” and she was heading back to the wing housing her private chamber, when a pair of jovial voices caught her attention. She recognized her father and Gavrhal, his most trusted captain, as they approached, laughing at some private joke.
A witty rejoinder was poised on her lips until her father spoke the words that shattered her heart. She froze, stunned to her core. They drew closer, and she quickly ducked into the nearest open room. She knew eavesdropping was wrong, but she had to be certain her ears did not deceive her.
“Very true, sire, and she is quite pleasant on the eye.”
She shoved her hand into her mouth to stifle her shocked gasp.
Her father’s laugh, which had always warmed her heart even in her darkest moments, took on a more sinister tone. “Damn right, she is. She got her looks from her mother, but that was it. From the reports I got from the few saps she did fuck, she didn’t get the same aptitude for sex. Too bad. Her mother could suck the chrome off a mooring hitch.”
Her stomach clenched, and she swallowed hard to force down her lunch. Why would he say such a thing? She had few memories of her mother, but none of them were tainted by any such accusations. True, she did travel much and most of her trips were in the opposite direction of their home. The one thing she did remember were the arguments. It seemed both of her parents were so wrapped up in the war surrounding their peoples, they carried the battles into the bedroom, as well.
“If she were still a virgin, that old bastard might have also thrown in the nearby moon.”
Even now, in the belly of some random passenger liner, his hateful and malevolent chuckling chilled her blood.
How could he do this to me?
All her life, she did everything she could to prove her worth. Being the only daughter of Bantal Cyrnavolk, Chancellor General of the Wyldren Kindred, she had to be better than any male or female in the entire system. Whether the test be mental or physical, she had to surpass all in her class. Most of her life was spent moving from front to front, each new stop bringing new challenges.
Yet the only man she sought to impress saw her as only an object. A prize to be handed over to cement a peace with their lifelong enemies, the Lavourne Dynasty.
An eerie silence descended, and she yanked herself out of her reverie. Uncoiling her cramped legs, she gathered her pack and peeked around the boxes she was using for her hiding spot. If she could slip in unnoticed with the other departing passengers, she’d be safe. Under normal circumstances, money would never have been an issue. She always had more than enough credits to buy whatever she desired, but as registered cred sticks. Now, any transaction would alert her father of her intended whereabouts, and she needed time away from him.
Let him suffer. That is, if he even notices I’m gone.
She shook her head, dismissing the weak thought, and looked for the perfect opening. The vid camera in the corner swept in a lazy arc, scanning the sporadic crowds. She had to time this perfectly. A large family passed by, two of their children running in opposite directions. While the parents struggled to rein in the wildly enthusiastic chaos, she melted into the fray.
Don’t look obvious.
Recalling her training, she relaxed her stance and slung her bag over her shoulder. Her gaze pinballed along the entry corridor, careful to laugh and glance away when she spied a seeking lens. Desperate to blend in with the eager guests, she struck up faked conversations with anyone near enough to touch, asking, enthusiastic and animated, about what sights those around her were the most excited about seeing. The single men eyed her with amorous intent, and she used their interest as an added cloak. She prayed the ruse was convincing enough to pass the last gate.
The farther she got from her deceitful father, the sooner she could rebuild her life. Maybe she couldn’t leave the name of Cyrnavolk forever, but she would rather die alone in poverty than be doomed to a loveless marriage to a bloated Lavourne princeling.
Karyna passed the final threshold, and her jaw dropped. She had heard of the splendor of the Blue Star Line’s premiere space liner, LS Quantum, but never had she dreamed of seeing the beautiful opulence with her own eyes. Crystal chandeliers dotted the ceiling, casting splintered rainbows across the thick carpet and every chromed surface. Scantily clad women swayed through the crowds, offering drinks and other wares. Filtering alongside the beautiful women were handsome men. Shirtless, oiled, and chiseled, they smiled seductively at any and all possible patrons. Signs proclaiming the locations of the various cabarets and shows catering to every vice imaginable were peppered strategically near the main lobby.
“Greetings. May I help you find something?”
A sultry voice over her shoulder startled her, and she fumbled for an answer. Turning, she glanced up at the statuesque hostess. Her feathered headdress and sky-high stilettos added to her staggering height and, considering Karyna was no diminutive female, that was impressive. A beaded and jewel-studded bra barely covering her ample and firm assets and matching low-slung handkerchief skirt screamed “escort.”
Obviously designed to test the waters, interpreting the desires of the guests, the woman waited patiently, batting her large blue eyes at her and smiling suggestively. While Karyna would not discount the female was attractive, her tastes were always for more conventional fare.
“Uhh … no. I mean, yes. Um, thank you. But if you could direct me to the nearest bar?”
A subtle shift in her demeanor said her preference was noted and catalogued. She dipped her head and gestured away from the rising twin staircases. “To your right, you will find a wide array of establishments that will suit your needs. If you wish for more privacy, the smaller clubs are farther down the corridor.”
Karyna nodded in thanks and headed toward the hall of her salvation. Perhaps somethin
g cold and strong could wash away the taste of betrayal still lingering in her mouth.
Of All the Gin Joints…
Highprince of the Lavourne Marqaz VI grinned, turning on the charm as he slid the bright pink drink to his latest conquest. She tittered, hiding her painted-on blush behind perfectly manicured claws. Long, blue feathery lashes waved as she brushed her fingertips along his hand as she retrieved his offering.
Last night, she had been an enthusiastic, but shallow, lover. Yes, she screamed and moaned in all the right places, and didn’t seem to mind that he only screwed her from behind. He got his wick wet, and wasn’t that the important part, anyway? As he chewed on his ice cube, he couldn’t remember her name. In a few hours, he was sure he would forget her enthusiasm, as well.
He held his smirk firmly in place as she prattled on about something. Honestly, after they left his bed, he really didn’t care about learning their life stories. Dabbling in paltry pleasures of the flesh took his mind off of his impending doom. His thoughts drifted away as he sipped on his watered-down gin and tonic.
Two solar weeks had passed since his number came up. Calling the relations between his home world and their bloodthirsty neighbors, the Wyldren Kindred strained would be like saying the fiery surface of Solarus was toasty. It was only a matter of time until his grandfather grew weary of the constant battles and loss of countless lives. Those sands ran out and negotiations began in earnest when it was realized his enemy had been blessed with a daughter.
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