by Brit Blaise
Cradon rushed to Fucian, who struggled to push himself up from the ground. “Be still,” he was telling Fucian when a scream from behind chilled his soul.
"No! Put down your swords! This alpana means you no harm."
Cradon turned to see Tye approaching Silda. It scared the wits out of him. Silda had attacked him twice since he'd come to the colony. What would she do to Tye?
He jumped forward, knowing full well she'd get to Silda's side before he could.
"Poor, Silda,” he heard her say. “Did that mean beast hurt you?"
And then Tye touched her.
Cradon kept moving, expecting Silda to swat Tye away. Instead Silda settled onto her haunches to lick her wounds. For whatever reason, Silda didn't consider Tye an enemy.
The faces of the colonists showed their concern and fear. Soon it would turn to distrust. They were a superstitious lot, and Cradon's exhibition would end his stay with the colonists, and perhaps destroy Tye's reputation.
"Fucian is dead!” someone shouted, though he didn't sound the least displeased.
"What's this?” someone else said. “His pocket's full of dried zyncka leaves."
Wyn arrived to throw a blanket to Cradon. After he wrapped it around him, he sought Tye, who remained by Silda's side. Wyn joined her sister and threw a charred bowl onto the ground near Silda's paw. “I found this under our father's bed. Someone was burning zyncka leaves in Father's room."
The crowd began to mumble.
He knew only too well the cruelty that could be inflicted on the Hajan sisters. They were both proud in the best possible way, but the rights of women were nonexistent. If anything happened to their father, their value would be little among the colonists.
"I claim Tye Hajan as my mate,” Cradon announced very loudly. “If any think to challenge me, speak now. And I have no claim to her other than my heart. I'm Cadite, a Tifcan warrior. Put your up swords against me and I will defend my honor."
The Metrans started to mumble among themselves, but none spoke. Instead, they walked away, until all who remained were Wyn, Tye, and the physician.
Tye reached out her hand to Cradon. Didn't she see what he'd become only moments before? Wasn't she repulsed?
"I think maybe Fucian opened the gates to get you out of the house,” Wyn said. “Who knows why he didn't do as he planned. Perhaps because you chose this time to reveal your Tifcan secret for all the colonists and my sister to see. You distracted him from his deadly deed."
"You're not repulsed or worse?"
"I thank the goddesses for you,” Wyn said. “If Fucian had given Father another dose of zyncka smoke, he would've killed him."
Wyn continued to clasp Cradon's hand. The petite woman only reached the middle of his chest, but he knew her temper outmatched her diminutive stature. Perhaps her graciousness was as fierce?
She poked Cradon in the chest. “You have been our savior. You've saved the harvest, our father's life and my sister from a boring life.” With that, she dropped her hand. “What say you, sister? Speak fast or I will claim him if you do not!"
Wyn didn't wait for Tye to respond and headed for the house. Tye didn't look away from Silda as she continued to pet his alpana. Cradon's heart ached.
* * * *
Tye's heart beat erratically and she had to fight from throwing herself into her warrior's arms. She'd never thought to see a true Tifcan warrior, although their own dear mother had told tales from the time they were old enough to understand.
Tales of bravery beyond compare, and so much more. “We have no ill will toward the Cadites, other than because of our own experience. My father forbade any Cadite from passing through the colony for fear the people living here would see any resemblance to our mother who was half-Cadite. He feared someone would learn her secret and cast his daughters out of the colony."
"That explains much."
"And my mother spoke to us of the Tifcan warriors among the Cadites. It seems before she met Father, she formed an attachment for a warrior who turned into a noctrinon at the slightest provocation. Anyone knows a noctrinon is far uglier and fiercer than an alpana. I've always admired the appearance of an alpana with their golden fur and brilliant amber eyes, even when I feared them.” Tye stroked Silda and watched her warrior react to her words.
"I suppose golden fur and sharp claws is preferable to leathery scales and rows of sharp teeth on the protruding snout of a noctrinon."
"Much preferable. And I believe my sister told the truth. If I don't marry you, she will. She's always been obsessed with Tifcan warriors, although neither of us believed it possible we'd ever lay eyes on one, let alone—"
"Are you certain about this?"
She blushed and nodded her head. “I trust your word. The first night we made love, I asked you what you wanted from me. You told me you wanted more than I might be willing to give, but you promised I'd never regret it."
"I still promise to make certain you don't regret it."
"Do you suppose, after we tend to Silda, we might have a little time to finish what we started up stairs ... before?"
"I assure you, I'm finished.” He smiled.
"And I assure you, I'm not."
* * * *
The next morning, Tye wanted to let Cradon sleep. They'd spent most of the night making love. Now, knowing Cradon needed to be at his best in the fields, she regretted it ... almost.
"It's time to face the colonists,” he said as he retrieved his sword.
"I wish you didn't have to go back into the fields. Just two of you to protect the workers. And the goddesses only know what the workers think of you, now that they know your secret."
"I'll manage. I promise you'll not get rid of me so easily."
She sighed and opened the door. Waiting in front of the gate were some of Cradon's workers. They each held a sword over his head and performed almost choreographed moves with their swords. Some were clumsy, others much better, but it moved her to see the honor they bestowed on Cradon with their actions.
Cradon moved to stand behind her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “We have their blessing it would appear."
"We've been blessed from the moment you came. We already have more tanco than any two harvests. My father is feeling better each day. He even spoke this morning, for the first time in weeks. I have you and also it seems the support of the colony."
Cradon drew her into his arms and kissed her for the entire colony to see if they cared to. “I love you. And you've yet to return the sentiment."
"I love you, Tifcan warrior. And I believe I more than returned the sentiment several times last night."
"Be prepared to do so again to celebrate the end of the harvest."
Be prepared to celebrate? Anticipation hit her hard enough to bring her to her knees. Thoughts of his tongue, and the marvelous way he used it, came to mind. “No, my warrior. You need to be prepared, for I intend to celebrate for months and months in the manner we employed last evening."
The look of surprise on his face made her smile.
She couldn't believe how happy he made her. She never dreamed such happiness and contentment existed. “I mean to explore every inch of your body, Tifcan warrior, whether it be covered with fur or not. For as long as it takes."
Cradon gave her a bold wink. “My love, I promise it will take forever."
Brit Blaise
As her first year of writing draws to a close, Brit Blaise has seen many changes in her life. Her time is now split between her mountain home in Arizona and a small farm in Ohio, with a rambling, rundown Victorian she purchased in a small Ohio town to restore on the side. No more season tickets to watch arena football, now she's mangling fingers as she attempts to build, refurbish and restore. Her bungling attempts are chronicled at www.myoldhouse.com. In between injuries, she's working hard on new stories for Amber Quill Press she hopes will keep her readers entertained in the future. Keep in touch with her latest project at www.Britblaise.com and happy reading!
* * * *
Don't miss Out Of Space, by Brit Blaise,
available at AmberHeat.com!
Reduced to transporting frogs across the galaxy in a last-ditch attempt to live his remaining days with flare, Ballas doesn't need a nerdy scientist to distract him. Ballas is out of space, no room on his ship, in his life or in his bed.
Sella only wanted a ride. The last thing she expected to find in Ballas's embrace is a solution to save her planet ... SEX!
Who knew saving a planet could be such fun?
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As the leader of an elite British group that hunts criminals of the magic world, Christian Wetherly comes to the U. S. undercover, posing as a British cop, to investigate a series of murders he suspects have been committed by a dark mage. He never expects, however, to find himself intensely attracted to the American police detective in charge of the case. Christian has long struggled with his hidden desires and hasn't admitted them to anyone. But Alec Anderson stirs something deep within him that's difficult to ignore.
Still ... even if he could master his fear of coming out, Christian's dedicated himself to protecting the world from magic terrors. It's a dangerous life an ordinary human could never understand or accept. And to complicate matters, Alec's emotionally vulnerable, still grieving the death of his previous lover, a fellow cop killed in the line of duty. So Christian's determined to keep his true occupation and powers hidden from Alec.
Neither man can deny the powerful chemistry that burns between them, and both realize they're falling hard for one another, yet with so many secrets and complications, a relationship seems impossible.
When the two men become the target of the dark magic, however, and clues about an ancient legacy come to light that indicate Alec may not be exactly what he seems, can they find the strength to tear down all the barriers between them and risk their hearts in order to save each other's lives?
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A brilliant businessman...
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Passion and vengeance from beyond the grave...
As the two are drawn toward one another, they fall under the shadow of a vengeful spirit who will stop at nothing to claim Daniel. To win the battle for his soul, Daniel must acknowledge past wrongs, or risk falling into an eternal—and fatal—enchantment.
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