16
(Tharnday, cont.)
D’zani ran all the way to the spot she’d promised to meet Elíaz.
He was standing there waiting already.
“Sorry to make you wait,” she said breathlessly as she met his embrace with enthusiastic kisses.
“You are worth waiting for,” he said. “Let’s go for a walk. There’s this little spot up the hill a bit – where we can watch the ships coming in while we eat.”
D’zani grabbed his hand and they started walking towards the trail just outside of town.
“You know I have to keep checking on you,” Elíaz said.
“I still don’t understand why. Just because I’m a girl?” D’zani asked.
“No. I know how you Kri’enden train and fight, but even a good shaze can be overcome on a bad day,” Elíaz said. “I can at least help you not have bad days!”
D’zani grinned, thinking about how she’d never have a bad day if he was always around!
They reached the bench with the stunning view and sat.
“Are you dancing tomorrow night?” Elíaz asked.
“I was planning on it,” D’zani said.
“Good. I definitely want to dance with you again.” He handed her a snack bar. “Hungry?”
“Thanks. Actually, this is the same kind that I have in here,” she said pulling out a package from her cloak.”
“Well, that is a good sign – similar tastes. That’s probably why I find you irresistible,” he said kissing her. He ran his hand through her hair. “I love this hair too.”
“My roommate loves to brush it for me,” D’zani confessed.
“Let me try,” he said, running his fingers through it. “Yes, maybe you’ll let me have a turn.”
D’zani giggled. “I’m not used to people liking my hair.”
“Get used to it.” He kissed her again. “So, you have a silver shaze badge,” he said fingering it on her cloak. “You must be pretty good.”
“Only as is expected in my country,” she replied.
“It is why the Balan are desperate for women like you,” he whispered, tracing her cheek with his finger.
“How do you know so much about the Balan?” D’zani asked, breaking the spell. “You seem to know more than any in our Complex. Why?”
“I read a lot,” Elíaz said with a shrug, sitting back against the bench.
“But the Balan are secretive, not like the Neví,” D’zani replied.
“That may be the only difference between the two,” Elíaz answered. “Or, so I’ve read, anyway. How does that Derick Aiden manage to write a whole movie about the Neví? Because someone told him, that’s how.”
“There is something about you that you keep from me – something important,” D’zani said. She pointed to her bronze empathy badge. “I can feel it.”
“I’m sure you’re also keeping things from me, maybe even important things. We’ve not known each other long enough to get beneath the surface. I think you’re just nervous, but nervous about what? About what you don’t know about me? Or about what you do?” he asked.
“What do you mean by that?” D’zani asked, alarmed by the way he was able to defuse her. Then, he had his lips on hers again, but his tongue forced its way past her lips. She was surprised, but then delighted, feeling his tongue exploring hers, tasting his scent. It opened a new longing inside her. “We should go back down,” she finally whispered when she managed to break free again.
“Why are you afraid?” he asked.
“I’m not,” she replied.
“Then what is it?” he asked.
“I need to know more about you before we get … involved,” she said.
“Too late for not getting involved – not after that kiss!” Elíaz said. “You responded fully, you enjoyed that.”
“That’s the only thing I’m afraid of,” D’zani said. “That I’ll regret that kiss – when I know everything about you.”
“The only thing I can tell you right now is that to know everything about me would be dangerous – for you, for me, maybe for others. The other thing is that I will tell you more as soon as I can.”
“But will the truth make me regret?” she wondered aloud.
“I hope not,” Elíaz said. “I know I won’t regret that kiss no matter what happens. I hope you feel the same way. Maybe even have another?”
D’zani looked at him, her feelings in a jumble. Still she leaned towards him for another deep, passionate kiss that left her heart reeling with love and desire for this man, like nothing she’d ever felt before.
“Thank you,” Elíaz said. “That will get me through until the dance.”
“Me too,” D’zani said. “I do need to get back though – or I won’t be able to get the time off tomorrow night!”
They walked hand-in-hand back down the trail. “I wish I could reassure you,” Elíaz said as they neared the Refuge. “I know that it’s hard to trust someone you’ve just met – knowing there are things they have hidden away, just out of reach. But please trust me. In time, I will prove myself to you, I promise.”
D’zani looked at him. “I want to trust you. It’s hard though – as you said. I can feel things about you. I can’t tell what they are, but the fact there are hidden doors makes me wary – it’s how I’ve been trained. My heart wants to trust you – even my instincts want to trust you.”
“Then trust your instincts, trust your heart,” Elíaz said, pulling her to him in one final kiss.
“Is there no one I can ask about you?” she asked.
“Not right now,” Elíaz said. “I’m in a bit of trouble with my superiors right now – and it is about you.” With that, he left.
D’zani wondered what he could mean. How would she get him into trouble?! Now, she wanted to trust him all the more – and all the less at the same time. She wished she had someone else she could talk to. Maybe Kinokei could give her some food for thought.
As the afternoon came to a close, Zukie put the last trays of creeping fire seeds in their spot. She put the rest of the tools and soil mixture in her closet.
“Emeric?” she called, not sure where her assistant had disappeared to.
“Yes?” he asked, when he appeared a minute later with Seryan.
“Akeld and I would like the two of you to join us for supper this evening – at our place. Would you come?” she invited.
“Sure, we can do that,” Emeric agreed. Seryan nodded. “We need a few minutes with the abári, but we’ll be along shortly after.”
“Sounds good,” Zukie said as she left the greenhouse for the night. She felt a little guilty as she walked to their home just a little ways away from the Complex. She hadn’t talked to either Akeld or Zara yet about this evening, but she could use her pregnant brain as an excuse for forgetting to tell them first… she just hoped Zara was making enough for guests!
Other Chapters of this set
Acting the Part - chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Building on Promise - Chapter 1
Acting the Part, part 2 - Chapter 10
Spice of Strength - Chapter 1
Maps and Guides
- continents of Alacantis and Kranisis (five maps)
- continent of Almara (five maps)
- countries of Kri'enden and Yezi'im (four maps plus "other places")
- characters, pronunciation and glossary
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Brighid's Blood 2006 and 1200 B.T.C.E. Katja and Rachel are so desperate for love that they cast two love spells one night. But the Guardians do not consider spells "fun", but rather as cries for help from the very depths of your soul. Certainly Katja and Rachel could not have possibly imagined where these spells would take them! |
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Birth of the Neví 829 T.C.E. It is a tumultuous period of Terrenden history. As is all too common, there are those who wish to profit from the misfortune of others. Some of these come together in a new "charitable organization" and step on the toes of the notorious Uugli. Combine this with draconian new measures to combat pollution and Terrenden has a situation ripe for a power struggle. |
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Rebound of Power: 850 T.C.E. Collection of Romance Terrenden is being terrorized by a previously underestimated Neví who, through the mysterious “Curator,” have been controlling elections all over the planet. In this collection, we meet some interesting women. Iyva - a homeless teenager in Irola whose untrained power leaves her close to death; Marc’la - a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past; Zukie - an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness; Jenna - an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara; Kami - a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara. |
| COMING SOON | TO AN EBOOK STORE NEAR YOU!!! |
| Rise of the Neví - 830 T.C.E. The Neví begin their rise in power with the completion of several large housing projects that seem totally charitable, but also hide a great evil within. The draconian measures brought in the previous year has caused major distress throughout the world, perfect for giving the Neví a further foothold on the Terrenden stage. Will the A’mara, now removed from the Council of Peers, be able to shut down the Neví? |
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Acting the Part - 851 T.C.E. Collection of Romance The Neví have infiltrated the Terrenden Freedom Party. Dr. Jarly is on the run and the Curator still dominates the Terrenden stage. Famous actor, Derick Aiden has released his Neví expose film and now the Neví want him dead... In this collection, we meet more interesting women. Kauri - a simple receptionist who doesn’t realize one of her wildest dreams has come true; Tirry - an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; Zara - a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; D'zani - who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; Soala - an heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; Moxara - one whose past griefs have locked away her heart. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
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Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
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also on: Whaleshares, WeKu, and Bearshares
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