by Rosalie Redd
Leonna scrunched her eyebrows together. The ritual was all about releasing the beast and letting go, having fun. “But Maman…why do I need luck?”
Maman winked at her. “Many a Stiyaha has found their mate on this night. Perhaps you will as well.”
Ugh. Bonding to a male was not something she wanted. She’d already had one relationship that hadn’t ended well. She didn’t need another one. “Why would I want that? Males are so,” she waved her hand in the air, “demanding and possessive.”
A thin laugh burst from her mother’s throat, startling her. “Yes, but you’ll find them alluring and hard to resist tonight.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m interested in bonding to one of them.” Leonna clenched her fist around the shell, the gold chain bouncing against the back of her fingers, teasing them with the promise of hope and love. Her heart skipped a beat, the traitorous organ giving away her innermost desire. She pursed her lips.
“If you don’t want to bond, then you won’t. The luck is the hope that you will find what you really want, be that love, courage, faith, or whatever your soul craves.”
Find what you really want. The words echoed in Leonna’s mind. A swell of energy made her chest expand. I want to paint. Her love of painting had been instilled in her from an early age. She still remembered her first brush and how she’d swayed to her own rhythm, creating her painted canvases. Others had marveled at her work, commending her for her style and attention to detail.
A sharp pain radiated from her chest. That was before the accident.
Leonna looked at her index finger, the one remaining digit on her right hand. She still painted, when she could get away from her responsibilities at the family honey cart. The paintings were good, but she’d lost her special touch. With a loud exhale, she bit her lip.
Maman placed a warm hand on her forearm. “My daughter, fear not. My maman did this for me at my first Betram ritual, as her maman did for her. This necklace,” she touched Leonna’s closed fist, “was made for this very occasion. I gave the shell to you on your first birthday in anticipation of tonight.”
Leonna stared into her maman’s green eyes, moist with unshed tears. Her chest tightened at the realization of how much her maman loved her. She threw her arms around the her mother’s neck. The scent of cherries filled Leonna’s senses, and her heart swelled all the more.
“Thank you, Maman,” she whispered.
Stepping back, she studied the boulder, searching for the perfect spot. Placing the gilded shell on a small bump, she gently straightened the chain, making sure as much gold as possible absorbed the sun’s rays. She’d be back before nightfall to collect the precious gift. A lump formed in her throat. Now, if she only knew what she really wanted.
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Dedication
To Steve, my own personal hero.
Your support and optimism gave me the courage to stretch my wings and fly.
Acknowledgements
It takes a whole lot of people to publish a book. When I set off on this quest, I really had no idea what I was getting into. The journey has been absolutely fabulous, and I want to thank the people that helped me along the way.
A shout out to my content reviewer Tanya Saari, your insights inspired me to flesh out my world far beyond what I had anticipated. Thank you to Fiona Jayde (www.fionajaydemedia.com) for such a beautiful cover. You captured the essence of my hero so well. Also, a wonderful thanks to my copy editor, Kelley Heckart, for keeping me straight with commas and proper nouns.
To my critique partners: Donna, Brenda, Nadine, Lea, and Tiffany, your helpful suggestions and comments were so invaluable, I can’t thank you enough. Lastly, thanks to my beta readers for giving my your honest feedback on what worked and what didn’t. My book is better because of you.
About the Author
After finishing a rewarding career in finance and accounting, it was time for Rosalie Redd to put away the spreadsheets and take out the word processor. She writes Fantasy/Science Fiction Romance inspired by classics from the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres layered with a good, hot dose of romance.
Her novel, Untouchable Lover, won or was a finalist in several contests sponsored by local chapters of Romance Writers of America.
She lives in Oregon, where rain is just another excuse to keep writing. When not at her computer, you can find her at Jazzercise, waterfall collecting in the Pacific Northwest, or relaxing with her husband and their pesky cat, Snookums.
