Rhea #30

She must’ve fallen asleep because her eyes popped open at the sound of shoes walking across the floor.

Rhea rolled off the bed in one direction, Perin rolled the other a fraction before bullet slammed into the mattress.

“Die!” A female shrieked.

Rhea crouched on the floor behind the bed. Her head spun. What had just happened?

Daring to peek over the bed revealed a short woman with a big gun standing in the doorway.

“Who the hell are you?” Rhea asked.

“He’s mine!” Her pale skin had turned a mottled red. Rage glowed in her eyes.

“Okay, you can have him.”

“You are just trying to save yourself. No one would give up being queen. I deserve that crown.”

Rhea wondered if the queen knew she wouldn’t be one much longer.

The shooter unwisely lowered her gun toward Perin. “Maybe I’ll just kill your little pet as a warning.”

Rhea kept a stranglehold on her anger. Most days. An evil bitch threatening her guard fell outside her usual parameters. Energy crackled along her fingers. The girl lowered her gun and Rhea struck.

Energy poured from Rhea’s hand, slamming into the girl. Screaming the intruder fell back and dropped her weapon.

Perin growled. They both stood to approach the girl.

“Is she dead?” Perin asked.

Rhea nudged the fallen girl with her foot. “No. She’s breathing.”

“What happened?” Teven came running up to the temple, a dozen guards at his heels.

“She shot at us,” Rhea said. “Apparently she wanted to be queen. Maybe she hasn’t heard your mother has that job.”

Teven kneeled by the girl, pressing two fingers against her neck. “She’s still alive.”

“You don’t have to sound so surprised. I don’t kill unless I have to. If she’d shot Perin like she said I would’ve killed her.”

Rafe rushed forward, pushing past the soldiers to reach Perin. He wrapped his arms around the other shifter and held him tight. “Are you all right?”

Rhea smiled at their interactions.

“I can’t believe she attacked you?”

“Believe it. Ex-girlfriend?”

Teven shook his head. “No she’s Lord Phenson’s daughter, Vella. I’ve only met her a few times. Mother briefly considered having me wed her but I shot that down after I saw you.”

Rhea couldn’t help the twinge of sympathy she had for the girl. Apparently she didn’t take rejection well. “What are you going to do with her?”

“Take her to the healer then to jail.” Teven ordered his guards. He stood and turned to examine the room. The bullet hole in the mattress had him clenching his jaw. “She’s lucky if I don’t sentence her to death. I’d best let my mother do the sentencing.” He grabbed one of the soldiers. “Have Lord Phenson meet me in my office.”

“Yes, your highness.”

Rafe released Perin and walked over to Rhea. “You have an appointment.”

“Ah, thank you. Have a good evening, your highness.” She tried to step around the king but was unsurprised when he grabbed her arm.

“Where are you going?” His low growl shouldn’t have been so sexy.

Blog Story Part #29

“What are you up to?” Rafe asked.

Perin slid into the room. “Where are we sneaking off to?”

Rhea grinned. “I love you guys.”

“We know,” they said in unison.

Rhea grinned. “Rafe, get hold of the dragons. Find out where to meet them for the stones.

“I thought Prince Marcep wanted to come with.”

“He can come next time. I need to get out of here.” Rhea scratched at her skin.

Perin grabbed her wrist. “We’re not going to go through that again. Don’t make me shackle you.”

“And don’t make me turn you into a bunny,” Rhea dared.

Perin’s snort of amusement eased her sudden rage. “If you could transform me into a bunny you would’ve a long time ago.”

Rhea crossed her arms, clenching her fists to stop scratching. Last time she’d left bloody tracks up her arm that had taken weeks to heal because her magic kept bursting them open. “I could make you wish you were a bunny.”

“That you could do,” Perin agreed.

“I’ll go to the dragon king. He sounded eager to have you charge his stones. I’m sure he’ll meet you if I tell him you need to purge your magic,” Rafe said.

“I don’t think that’s the only kind of stones he wanted her charging,” Perin growled.

“Well, that’s what I have you two for, to protect my virtue,” Rhea announced.

The three of them exchanged glances then burst into laughter.

Rafe had to wipe the tears from his eyes. “Oh, fuck. I’m out of here. Perin, watch her.”

“Will do.”

The cat shifters exchanged a quick hug then Rafe left.

“I’ve never figured out why you two just don’t mate together.”

Perin scowled. “Because we need a female to be a proper triad. I love Rafe but he doesn’t complete me. We need our third.”

The pain in Perin’s voice pulled Rhea out of her own troubles. “Once we get sis married off we’ll turn up the hunt to get you two your mate.”

“Thank you, princess. Of all the people we couldn’t been assigned to you were the best choice.” Perin gave a short bow.

“If we need to find you a girl shifter to finish your family unit then that’s what we’ll do.” Rhea knew she’d miss cuddling with her shifter guards but they deserved to be happy.

“Lie down princess. I’ll hold you until Rafe returns. It might be a while.”

Rhea nodded. “That’s a good idea.”

She kicked off her shoes and let Perin pull her into his arms. Unlike when she lay with with the king, Rhea’s magic didn’t rise up to take over. Rhea sighed. Despite the momentary reprieve Rhea missed the king’s arms around her.

Rhea #28

Welcome back to my story. I’m going to try and post once a week!

Rhea didn’t know what to say. She’d had plenty of men want to be her current lover but few dare to think they could help channel her magic.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.”

Rhea frowned. “You have an unrealistic idea of your ability to channel magic. I don’t think your people will appreciate it if I burn out their king not to mention using you constantly might bond us together. I need to be able to leave after my sister’s wedding.”

“Why?” Teven slid a finger down the center of her neck leaving a trail of shivers in his wake.

“Because you have too many moons!” Rhea almost shouted. How could he not know the problem with so many glowing orbs in the sky?

“There’s not too many if I can give you a way to channel all that energy.”

“Trust me even I can only have sex so many times a day.”

Teven gave a burst of laughter. “That wasn’t what I was thinking. I think we can come up with a lot of ways to use your magic.”

Rhea shoved the king. He landed on the floor with a loud thud. Sliding off the bed Rhea got to her feet.

“Get out!” She pointed to the door. Whether he would heed her when he ruled the entire country she didn’t know but her rage didn’t allow her room for diplomacy.

“Why did you do that?”

“Because I don’t plan on sticking around so you can use my magic. I’m here as moral support for my sister and nothing else.” Rhea couldn’t make herself meet the king’s eyes. He might see the hurt in her eyes if he looked and she refused to give anyone that power over her.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” Teven stood before her but didn’t try to touch.

“Leave me. I’m going to take a nap.” She doubted she could really sleep, the magic twirled around her in an imaginary vise. There were ways to bleed of the magic and if she couldn’t get her shifter friends over to help she could do some diffusion spells on her own. It had been a long time since Rhea had to release magic on her own but she could manage.

Teven dared to squeeze her shoulder. “I don’t want to leave you here along, I’ll send your guards.”

“Thank you.” Rhea didn’t trust his easy acquiescence.

The king walked to the exit but stopped before he opened the door. “Promise me one thing.”

“What?”

“Promise you won’t have sex with them.” Teven clenched his jaw as if he was physically trying to hold back words.

“I promise.” Rhea had never had sex with her cat shifting guard and never would. Maybe one day she’d share that with Teven or not. If she told him too much he might find reasons for them to be bonded. Rhea didn’t want to encourage him.

Teven stomped back, grabbed her around her waist and kissed Rhea until she forgot about the need for oxygen. When he released her he had a serious expression on his face. “Sleep well.”

“Thanks.” Rhea managed to mutter in an almost regular voice.

After a short nod of acknowledgement Teven left the room.

Rhea let out the breath she’d been holding and fell on top of the mattress. “I am in so much trouble.”

Bella #31

(Remember its unedited. No comments from the grammar police)

Bella went from one young prince to the next. Whenever another male tried to dance with her he was effectively cut out by one of the princes. A hard hand on her shoulder spun her around.

“What?”

King Zerrin smiled down at her. “My sons have decided to pick my bride.”

Bella wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know that I would trust them with that decision, Your Highness, they can be easily bribed with candies.”

Zerrin wrapped an arm around Bella’s waist and began moving to the music. Bella had to cling to his jacket in order to not stumble in the ridiculous shoes the queen made her wear.

“Hmm, you do make a good point. Who do you think I should marry?”

Bella’s heart pounded in her chest. She swallowed convulsively as she desperately tried to find some moisture in her throat. “I’m sure I don’t know, Your Majesty. I’m certain any of the women here are qualified. I’d hope you would take your sons into consideration and choose someone who would make them a good mother.”

It wasn’t fair. If she proposed herself she’d look like the vainest creature on the planet. If she didn’t she appear look uninterested. Bella had to admit she truly didn’t want to be queen but she’d love to wake up next to the man holding her gently in his arms.

“Hmm, that is true. I should pick someone my children like. It wouldn’t hurt if she could handle them either. I suppose I could always turn them over to the servant’s if they get to wild.”

Bella dug in her heels. Fury burned through her. “If you dare abandon those boys I will poison your food and dance on your grave.” Bella yanked the stick pin out of her dress and stabbed it in into the king’s shoulder.

“Ouch, dammit Bella.”

Yanking out of his hold Bella pushed her way through the crowd. Idiot! How could she fall for a man who’d toss his kids aside? He was lucky he had so many guards because the temptation to get her chef knives and finish the job had her hands itching.

Warm laughter was her only warning before strong hands halted her progress through the crowds.

“Temper, temper, my sweet,” the king’s rich voice caressed her ear as he pulled her into his arms, her back to his front. “You’re going to have to learn to hold your anger if you plan on being queen.”

Bella stopped struggling. She barely remembered to breathe. “What are you talking about?”

Zerrin spun her around. Before Bella could spit out the words to eviscerate him where he stood, the king dropped to his knees. “Bella, my dear, I’ve been enamored with you since you brought me that first meal and all but dared me to not like it. My kids adore you, my mother likes you more than she likes me and I’m madly in love with you.” Zerrin reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out a ring box. “Bella, would you do me the honor of being my queen?”

A tug at her dress distracted her from the piercing eyes of the king.

Prince Varren looked up at her with his, wide innocent eyes. “Say yes Bella, then you can be my mama,” he whispered.

Bella blinked back tears. “I’d love that,” she whispered back to him.

Zerrin cleared his throat. “I take it that’s a yes because the marble is hell on my knees.”

Bella laughed. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”

New Cover Art!

Here is the cover for Rhea’s book. I know I need to start posting again. *distracts with the pretty*

New Cover Art!

This is the one for Bella’s Story!

Bella #30

Okay it’s been a while since I posted. I’m posting a short one for bella to get us back into the swing of things.

****

Bella sat between two of the most vapid people on the planet. Since there was an overabundance of females at the feast, they placed her between two women who spent the entire time discussing their hair, their nails, and the fact that one of them was going to be the next queen as soon as she lured the king to her side.

Neither of them would make suitable mothers for the princes and she doubted they cared.

Bella gritted her teeth when they turned their attentions to her. It was a good thing they didn’t let her bring a knife to the ball she might have been arrested for murder.

“So where is your family from Bella, is it?”

Bella took a slow deep breath.

“Bella!” Varren rushed around the table to throw his skinny arms around her neck.

“Hey Varren,” Bella said squeezing him tight. “What are you doing out of bed?”

If it wasn’t so late she’d give him an entire box of chocolates for interrupting the boring dinner.

He leaned back but settled in her lap, his eyes wide with excitement. “I heard you were marrying daddy.”

Bella laughed. “We haven’t discussed it yet.”

“Grandma said you were and she’s always right,” Varren said with the confidence only a young child could have.

Bella stroked Varren’s soft hair.

The two women on either side of her went blessedly silent. Bella suspected it was only because they were waiting to hear what she said so they could pass it along to anyone who wandered past their table. These were definitely the gossipmongers of the group.

She tried to pick her words carefully. Despite the princes and the queen thinking they’d made a good couple Zerrin hadn’t said anything to back up their beliefs. There didn’t seem to be a case to make wedding plans if the king didn’t choose her.

Varren tilted his head. “I’d like it if you were my mother,” he confided.

Bella smiled. “I bet whoever you father chooses will love you very much.”

She hoped her words were true. If he king chose either Bella’s dining companions she doubted they’d give the boys a passing glance much less the unconditional love they needed.

“Miss Bella?”

Bella looked up to see Prince Lianth bowing before her. “Would you do me the honor of this dance?”

The young man looked so much like his father Bella’s heart ached. The vulnerability in Lianth’s face as he waited sealed the deal. She scooted Varren off her lap. “I’d be delighted your highness.”

Lianth at fourteen stood a few inches taller than Bella’s petite form so she didn’t feel awkward being led around by the teen.

“You dance very well,” Bella complimented. It wasn’t empty praise either. Whoever had taught Prince Lianth had done a good job. The young man moved Bella around the dance floor with a confident grace missing in a lot of full grown men.

After a few minutes of realizing the prince knew what he was doing, Bella relaxed in his arms and let him sweep her around the dance floor. Now the party was becoming fun.

Rhea

I’m having a cover made up for Rhea and I decided on a name for the book. Moon Magic & Mayhem! So stay tuned for more postings and a pretty cover.

Rhea #27

Teven carried Rhea to a room of gold veined white marble. In the center of the tower was a bed perched on a dais.

“What’s this for?”

Teven set Rhea carefully on the surface. “This used to be where the priestesses came to meditate. It’s sound proofed so they could do their chanting without bothering anyone sleeping. I added the bed after I heard you were coming. Your father sent a list of requirements. One of them was to have a room where you could unwind. I thought this would work. When you need solitude this room is available for your use.”

Rhea would’ve thanked him for his consideration but a spike of magic jabbed her through the spine and she let out a scream.

“Good thing it’s sound proof,” Rhea joked between pants. She could feel sweat dripping down her face as she fought against the magic. If she didn’t try to hold it back it could literally consumer her.

“Let me help,” Teven offered. He stripped off his shirt and crawled into the bed with her. “If I’d known I’d be joining you I would’ve gotten a larger mattress.”

Rhea laughed through the shards of pain stabbing into her skull. “That’ll teach you to pre-plan better.”

She sucked in her breath as a particularly sharp influx of magic twisted her gut and made the room swirl about her.

Teven kissed her. The magic eased a bit, latching onto the new entity.

“Relax, give it over to me,” Teven growled.

Rhea tried to imagine pushing some of her magic into the king but it stubbornly clung to her. Her mother had once told her she acted as a magic magnet pulling it all inside her with no outlet, hence the harem idea. A concept Rhea couldn’t quite stomach.

“I can’t,” Rhea said hopelessly. She hated feeling so out of control. Her magic had hold of her instead of her controlling the magic.

“Kiss me again and concentrate.” Teven gripped Rhea’s chin and forced her to look him in the eyes. “You can’t take much more magic. I’m the only chance you have of surviving.”

Rhea opened her mouth to object. She could think of several more men in the castle who might do the job.

Teven kissed her. His tongue slid across hers claiming her, coaxing her. With a soft whoosh of sound Rhea felt energy surge from her body. The ache went from sharp and spiky, to dull and familiar. This she could handle.

When Teven lifted his head, for a moment his pupils glowed white. Rhea gasped at the sight but before she could comment they changed back to their natural black.

“I can be your mate, Rhea. Give me a chance to show you I can handle your power. The moons will become unbearable if you don’t take a full time lover as your own and I can tell you now if you take anyone but me they will find themselves in jail before you can take them to bed.”

Rhea wisely refrained from mentioning there were a lot of other surfaces she could have sex on. The king’s intense gaze didn’t allow for teasing banter.

“You’re serious,” Rhea said with wonder. “You really want to be the one to help me bleed off energy.”

“No. I need to be the one,” Teven insisted. “I was born to be your other half.”

Rhea #26

I know I skipped Bella. I’ll fit her in this week.

****

Heat rushed through Rhea’s body originated from Teven’s hand on her arm. Shivers raced down her body at the touch of Teven’s calluses sliding across her skin.

She held back the moan building in her chest. She couldn’t give him that power. If he knew how he affected her she knew he’d take advantage of that fact.

Kings weren’t known for being soft and cuddly.

Not when they had hard bodies and acres of muscles she could happily slide across.

No!

She brutally brought her focus back to the problem at hand. This time it wasn’t about her.

“Is your brother a wimp? Rhea blurted out.

Teven removed his hand. “What?”

“I can’t let Jamie marry a guy she can’t respect.”

Teven scowled. “My brother isn’t a weakling. He’s stronger than most men I know.”

“Jamie’s worried she’ll walk all over him,” Rhea explained. “No offense to your brother but she wanted to make sure. I figure a brother would know best.”

She didn’t want to offend their host but her sister’s future depended on her respecting her future husband.

Teven turned his attention to Jamie. He stared at her so long Rhea started to wonder if she needed to renew her sister’s protection spell. “I think my brother will surprise you. I know he appears easygoing but he has a solid core that will surprise you.”

“Good,” Jamie said. She shifted her attention between Rhea and the king. “I’ll just leave you two alone.”

“No!” Rhea grabbed for her sister who danced out of reach.

“Bye sis,” Jamie wiggled her fingers as she sauntered away down the hall.

“I like her,” Teven said, a bright glow in his green eyes. “She knows how to make an exit.”

“Yes she does,” Rhea agreed gritting her teeth. “And now I’ll make mine.”

She turned to walk in the opposite direction only to be yanked back into Teven’s arms. He circled his arms around her pulling her close until they touched chest to knees. His erection prodded her stomach alerting her to his need.

Magic surged through her, twisting her stomach in knots of desire.

Another flare struck her body, crackling her bones with sexual craving.

“I’ve got you love,” Teven said. His voice, low and soothing, coated her soul in a blanket of comfort.

“I need quiet,” Rhea said over the pain. If she could take a few minutes to meditate she could contain her magic.

“There’s a small temple in the east tower. I can take you there,” Teven offered.

“Thank you.” Rhea took a careful step back. Her body screamed against the separation. She caught her breath as her magic threatened to spiral out of control.

Teven scooped her off her feet.

“I can walk,” Rhea protested.

“You could but let me feel all manly. It’s good for my ego,” Teven said carrying her down the hall.

“I’m not sure your ego can take any more boosting,” Rhea joked as she gasped for air.

Teven smiled. “I think I can handle it. Whether I can handle you is the question.”

Rhea nestled her head against his shoulder. “I doubt it.”

How could he when she couldn’t even control her ability.