The Monster's Caress: A Seven Kingdoms Tale 8 (The Seven Kingdoms)
Page 26
The next scene shook Nali the most. Asahi cupped her hand and held the mirror steady when it wobbled. The woman lay on a pallet of blankets partially hidden by the collapsed roof. Shock, horror, and pain filled Nali when she realized the woman was dead. Beside her, the man held a newborn baby wrapped in a blanket. He removed a gold band from his wrist and kissed it. He gently unwrapped the baby and held the gold bracelet over the infant. Nali blinked when she realized that she was staring into her own curious eyes.
“We should have listened to the warnings. Our world here has ended. Please Goddess, I beg you to protect our daughter,” he whispered.
The gold in his hand dissolved and flowed over the infant. Her dark brown eyes shimmered and changed to gold. The man wrapped the infant again and tenderly caressed the long curls of black hair peeking out from under the blanket. He looked over his shoulder and stood. Nali’s heart ached when she saw the man’s expression. A tear escaped and slid down her cheek at the intense mixture of emotions running through her. Grief, resignation, and acceptance filled her at the sight of the approaching pyroclastic flow.
She knew what it felt like to watch the end of the world approaching. Memories and emotions flooded her as the familiar sense of helplessness swept over her. She had felt the same intense emotions of grief, resignation, and acceptance the man was experiencing when she thought she had lost Asahi.
The image changed again. This time softening around the edges and focusing on one tiny spot—the baby. A gateway opened and delicate golden hands reached down to pick up the tiny infant.
“Xyrie,” she breathed.
Xyrie smiled and locked eyes with the adult Nali watching in the mirror. “There are pleas we cannot ignore. Your father once came to my assistance. Aminta gave him the symbiot bracelet in return, to use if he should ever need help. She could not save your world, but she could save you. On the day your father asked her to protect you, another father asked for a child to love. Aminta knew you would fit in on this world and asked that I help keep an eye on you,” she explained.
“Thank you,” Nali murmured in a voice thick with emotion.
“What about Phoenix?” Asahi asked as the image faded.
“She is safe,” Xyrie said in a far-away voice.
Nali stared at her and Asahi’s reflection. She met his gaze and gave him a watery smile. He tightened his hold on her hand when the mirror vanished. Turning in her chair, she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her head against his shoulder.
He tenderly rubbed her back as she quietly cried. Her adoptive parents had shared how they found her, but they could never tell her where she came from—or about her birth parents. Their love had filled her heart, and she had accepted that the Goddess had brought her here because this was where she belonged. Now her heart ached for her biological parents, and it pained her to know that she would never meet them.
“I wish I could take your pain,” Asahi murmured, kissing her temple.
She sniffed and sat back. Asahi picked up one of the cloth napkins and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. She threaded her fingers through his and kissed him before leaning back. The love in his eyes warmed her and helped ease her pain.
“You do whenever you hold me. I love you,” she whispered, tracing his face from his temple down to his chin. “Thank you.”
“Aishiteru,” he quietly replied as he kissed her fingers. “You never have to thank me.”
She sighed when he turned, poured two glasses of wine, and handed one to her. It was then that she noticed an unusual glow in his dark brown eyes—a swirl of gold that she didn’t remember seeing before. He smiled.
“What is that in your eyes?” she asked.
“I do feel different. The dream I had, it was not just about you,” he confessed.
She lifted an eyebrow in inquiry. “What happened in the dream?” she asked.
He placed his cup on the table and rose to his feet. She tilted her head in curiosity when he held his hand out to her. With a tired sigh, she placed her cup on the table, slid her hand into his, and stood up. A small gasp slipped from her when he pulled her into his arms. The breath from his light chuckle caressed the skin near her ear.
“I dreamed that I could fly,” he murmured.
Her lips parted in shock when a pair of beautiful golden wings slowly appeared out of Asahi’s back and wrapped around her. She gazed up at him, trying to understand. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss against her parted lips.
“Aminta…,” she whispered as she reached out and touched his soft feathers.
“A gift,” he replied with a nod.
She cradled the back of his head and leaned forward, capturing his lips. Her heart swelled with love. He tenderly caressed her back, drawing a groan from her when his hands dipped lower. She tangled her fingers in his hair and looked up at him with a gasp.
“I want you, Asahi,” she said, her voice growing desperate with need.
He laughed with happiness. His wings vanished into his back and he picked her up. She lovingly ran her hand along his shoulders, missing the beautiful golden feathers already. Tomorrow they would fly, but for the rest of the night, she would relish being in Asahi’s arms where their love would soar.
Note from the Author
I hope you’ve enjoyed the adventures of the Seven Kingdoms as much as I have. For those that have read my series, you know that many of them intertwine with another. In this case, it is with the Dragon Lords of Valdier. Phoenix, one of my characters from the Dragon Lords and Dragonlings series, has captured my heart. Her journey is just beginning. If you have not read my Dragon Lords of Valdier series, I encourage you to discover this amazing world starting with Abducting Abby. A list of my series can be found below or on my website at http://sesmithfl.com/reading-list-by-series/
Additional Books
If you loved this story by me (S.E. Smith) please leave a review! You can discover additional books at: http://sesmithfl.com and http://sesmithya.com or find your favorite way to keep in touch here: https://sesmithfl.com/contact-me/ Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to hear about new releases!
Recommended Reading Order Lists:
http://sesmithfl.com/reading-list-by-events/
http://sesmithfl.com/reading-list-by-series/
The Series
Science Fiction / Romance
Dragon Lords of Valdier Series
It all started with a king who crashed on Earth, desperately hurt. He inadvertently discovered a species that would save his own.
Curizan Warrior Series
The Curizans have a secret, kept even from their closest allies, but even they are not immune to the draw of a little known species from an isolated planet called Earth.
Marastin Dow Warriors Series
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Sarafin Warriors Series
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Dragonlings of Valdier Novellas
The Valdier, Sarafin, and Curizan Lords had children who just cannot stop getting into trouble! There is nothing as cute or funny as magical, shapeshifting kids, and nothing as heartwarming as family.
Cosmos’ Gateway Series
Cosmos created a portal between his lab and the warriors of Prime. Discover new worlds, new species, and outrageous adventures as secrets are unravelled and bridges are crossed.
The Alliance Series
When Earth received its first visitors from space, the planet was thrown into a panicked chaos. The Trivators came to bring Earth into the Alliance of Star Systems, but now they must take control to prevent the humans from destroying themselves. No one was prepared for how the humans will affect the Trivators, though, starting with a family of three sisters….
Lords of Kassis Series
It began with a random abduction and a stowaway, and yet, somehow, the Kassisans knew the humans were coming long before now. The fate of more than one world hangs in the balance, and time is not always linear….
Zion Warriors Series
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Paranormal / Fantasy / Romance
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Second Chance Series
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More Than Human Series
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The Fairy Tale Series
A twist on your favorite fairy tales!
A Seven Kingdoms Tale
Long ago, a strange entity came to the Seven Kingdoms to conquer and feed on their life force. It found a host, and she battled it within her body for centuries while destruction and devastation surrounded her. Our story begins when the end is near, and a portal is opened….
Epic Science Fiction / Action Adventure
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An international team leave Earth to investigate a mysterious object in our solar system that was clearly made by someone, someone who isn’t from Earth. Discover new worlds and conflicts in a sci-fi adventure sure to become your favorite!
New Adult / Young Adult
Breaking Free Series
A journey that will challenge everything she has ever believed about herself as danger reveals itself in sudden, heart-stopping moments.
The Dust Series
Fragments of a comet hit Earth, and Dust wakes to discover the world as he knew it is gone. It isn’t the only thing that has changed, though, so has Dust…
About the Author
S.E. Smith is an internationally acclaimed, New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling author of science fiction, romance, fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary works for adults, young adults, and children. She enjoys writing a wide variety of genres that pull her readers into new worlds.