31
(Muranaday)
There was a buzzing sound. It was still dark, Zara realized. Time to get moving. With the warm male body next to her, she didn’t want to go anywhere.
“Was that your alarm?” Emeric’s groggy voice asked.
“Yes,” she said stretching against him.
A dim light turned on. He pulled her closer and kissed her.
“I don’t think I’ve ever not wanted to go to work before.”
“At least I can come with you,” Emeric replied. “I have approximately three seasons to be able to cover for you, after all!”
Zara smiled and giggled lightly. “Maybe,” she admitted with a blush.
“Cyanus will do our wedding as soon as we want it. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about now. No one will be the least bit surprised,” he said kissing her again.
Another alarm sounded, this one a bit more urgent.
“Back up?” Emeric said chuckling and using the leya to turn it off.
“That was for me to get out of the shower,” she replied giggling.
“Then I guess we should get dressed. I understand that no one gets breakfast until the Chef arrives!” Emeric suggested.
Cyanus had just sat down for breakfast with Nina.
His PCS link buzzed.
“Cyanus,” he replied.
“This is Kinokei, reporting in,” the woman replied, her fuzzy image showing up on the screen.
“I didn’t know you were away again!” Cyanus said. The old stella had a habit of drifting, as he called it.
“I wanted you to know that I’ve found a source of creeping fire at last!” Kinokei replied. “I will be staying a day or two though as this stella has a few things to teach me before I get back to Towani.”
“Where the heck are you?!” he asked. “I don’t even get a clear image of you.”
“In the Distant Lands,” she replied. “It’s beautiful here!”
“Be careful!” Cyanus said. “There’s a reason these lands are distant!”
“The people are very friendly. I’m in good hands, don’t worry, Abári.”
“Buy what you need and hurry back!” Cyanus urged, thinking of the vulnerable young ladies as well as the fact that he knew Kinokei would want to be there for the weddings.
“I will come back as quickly as I can manage it!”
“We wait eagerly for your return. But be careful!” Cyanus repeated as he closed the connection.
“Abári,” another voice said. Cyanus turned to see Ory approaching him.
“Yes, Ory,” Cyanus replied.
“I’ve had confirmation that the two Shadows in Joton are, in fact, Zilan and Iyva. Their abári was able to show someone their footage, then send them to join at the club. The guy was able to join for their weekly tournament only to be soundly defeated by Iyva, but she is a strong empath as well. The guy is afraid of spooking them by going more frequently.”
“It is wise to try to avoid alarming them. You don’t live in the shadows for long by being in the open,” Cyanus said. “Anyway, good work. I’m glad to know they are still okay. You could see if someone will keep monitoring them, so that we know when they jump and where they might be going next.”
“Already happening.”
“Very good, Ory.”
D’zani put on her padding and picked up a training shaze. Then, she faced her newest opponent with a deep breath.
“I need to know who Elíaz needs to spar against,” Cyanus excused. “Begin!”
D’zani waited for Elíaz to strike, but he didn’t. He seemed to be waiting just like she was.
She tried goading him, then sending little leya pushes, then sending kisses. He wouldn’t budge.
Suddenly she felt the little push back and reacted to find him aggressively pursuing her. She parried away each strike and thrust, countering when she could. Then, they were in a bind.
“You’re pretty good,” he complimented.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” D’zani said as she distracted him enough to get the upper edge again.
Their shazes clashed and blazed with showers of sparks everywhere. The battle did not wane, but continued in its full intensity, testing both combatants to the best of their ability. D’zani was so exhilarated by the fight, the intensity energizing her.
Again she was on the offensive, advancing with the intent of disarming Elíaz. But again, he fought back into her territory.
She found the whole dance strangely erotic and arousing, like something from a holoflick.
After awhile more, D’zani became aware of the fact they were both tiring. Neither had backed down, neither had given in, nor was forced to. All at once, his image of them kissing filled her mind, distracting her that fraction of a second, then suddenly, she found herself on a mat, with Elíaz above her, delivering the promised kiss.
She grabbed his hair to keep him there as she answered his kiss with her own, prompting whistles and whoops from the audience they didn’t realize they had.
There was a clearing of a throat which prompted D’zani to start giggling breathlessly. Elíaz pulled her to standing. The room was filled with students, she suddenly realized.
“That, everyone, was a gold level shaze demonstration,” Cyanus announced to the whoops and cheers of everyone in the room.
“Gold level in kissing?” someone hollered. A laugh was heard at that.
“Marry me?” Elíaz suddenly asked loudly and clearly grabbing both of her hands. “I’ve never met anyone who can give me such a challenge. You already had my heart, but I want you by my side, D’zani.”
“Yes! I was already falling for you, but taking a Death Edict to defend me showed me that I could trust you with my heart,” she replied. Then she added quietly, “Though you know you cheated there.”
“All is fair in love and war,” he reminded her as he went for another kiss to lots of cheers and applause.
“I’ll do the ceremony whenever you’re ready, I’ll give you your gold badges next meeting – which probably had better also be your A’mara commitment ceremony, Elíaz,” Cyanus said. “Congratulations, you two.”
“Thank you, Abári,” D’zani said giving the man a hug.
“Thank you, Abári,” Elíaz echoed. He accepted a hug from the man. “Thank you for everything!”
[NEXT CHAPTER
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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