32
(a few days later on Rinday)
A small group of A’mara headed for the Blast 2 together. Cyanus had graciously assigned guards to D’zani and Elíaz due to his Death Edict. Cyanus had insisted that they be able to have as normal a courtship as possible. She squeezed the hand of her beloved as they entered the club together.
“It’s a different place to me tonight,” D’zani said. “I’m here to dance with my future husband.”
Elíaz smiled. “It’s different for me too. I’m with the love of my life who loves me for who I am. But I’m very glad there’s a strong A’mara presence here tonight.”
“I think Cyanus has decided that it needs to be a higher priority – because of you, but also simply because so many of our young people come here and since there are obviously more Balan about,” D’zani said.
“I recognize all the Balan at the moment, but I am sure that will change, maybe just to keep me off balance,” Elíaz said.
They started dancing to a slow song. D’zani snuggled close to him. “I wish I could have got Vissia to come, it would be good for her.”
“I can’t say I blame her for not wanting to come though. Breckan might still be here,” Elíaz said. “I sure would be happier if you had your shaze on you.”
“It’s impossible to dance with it,” D’zani replied.
The music shifted to a more upbeat tempo.
“The music is a bit different tonight,” Elíaz said. “Do you swing dance as well as you shazeplay?”
“I do a bit,” she said. “I don’t get much practice.”
“I can help with that.”
They danced a slow swing dance for awhile, working up the speed as D’zani grew more confident.
After awhile, D’zani was feeling a bit winded. “Let me just use the restroom, then we can sit down for awhile,” she said.
“I’ll wait outside,” Elíaz said.
D’zani went in.
Elíaz felt him before he saw him. He tensed, his hand on his shaze.
“You have a lot of nerve coming here!” Breckan seethed.
“I have the same right to be here as you do,” Elíaz reminded.
“I don’t have a Death Edict,” Breckan replied.
“You wouldn’t kill me in the middle of a crowd like this!” Elíaz challenged.
“Wouldn’t I?” Breckan asked.
“We used to be friends,” Elíaz reminded.
“Maybe,” Breckan said.
D’zani came out. Breckan grabbed her and forcefully kissed her.
Elíaz knew what was happening. “Spit it out!” Elíaz shouted at D’zani, but Breckan wouldn’t let her, holding her mouth closed.
“I can still take her,” Breckan threatened. “Right out from under your nose. Tasp would be proud of such an accomplishment. He will promote me to #2, even above Elið!”
“You will do no such thing!” Elíaz replied.
“But she’s in my hands right now and you don’t know what I’ll do if you reach for your shaze.”
D’zani was fighting consciousness. She felt dizzy and sick as the mint dissolved on her tongue. She felt Elíaz’s horror at not being able to do anything to help her. She would have to do something – and quickly before she passed out or was taken away by Breckan. She didn’t have her shaze on her and vowed to never again leave it behind for any reason. She did what any woman should do in the situation. She kicked her foot hard into his groin. She fell to the floor as he released his grip.
Instantly, she heard Elíaz draw his shaze. She watched in a daze as her beloved fought this man again. More shazes joined the battle, she couldn’t tell who or which side they were on, but it kept going furiously for awhile. Breckan was refusing to back down, she could tell that much.
Apparently, the others were distracted because Breckan was somehow with her again, placing her on a table and pulling her clothes off. Did he intend to rape her right there and then?
In panic, she grabbed the only thing she could – the leya – and hurled a wall of air towards him, sending him flying before she blacked out.
Elíaz stood there, stunned, as his former roommate slid lifeless to the floor. D’zani’s leya blast had thrown the man onto his shaze before he could react.
Almost immediately, the other Balan in the room left quickly and silently, leaving their fallen comrade behind. <Cowards,> he thought.
He looked around until he found D’zani, lying unconscious on a table, her nether regions ungraciously exposed. Had Breckan won? The thought terrified him as he restored her decency. He felt for extra leya imprints and only found the ones on her clothing. She had not been defiled, he realized with relief. He opened her mouth and gave her the antidote that he had carried with him. Now, he just had to wait.
For the first time, he looked around at the others who had joined in with the fight. Two cholas were being loaded onto stretchers and taken away to treat. They appeared to be okay, he realized gratefully.
Elíaz turned back to D’zani who was regaining consciousness.
“Thank the leya you’re okay!” he exclaimed covering her with kisses as he pulled her up to himself.
“Your kisses are so much better than his,” she replied.
He grinned.
“Let’s take you home,” he said quietly, lifting her to her feet. “Can you walk?”
“I think so,” D’zani said weakly.
Elíaz helped her towards the door and they made the long walk back to the A’mara Complex together.
D’zani was barely awake when they got there, so he took her up to his room. He placed her on his own bed, put the cover over her, then lay down on the couch in the living room, pulling the throw over himself for warmth.
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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