Holiday Memories

Hey everybody!  Glad that you stopped by. If you look to the left you will see Cover for RJ Scott's Blog Hop for December 1st and 2nd.  If you click on it, that will take you to a list of everyone who is participating in her hop.  There are a lot of contests going on so make you check it out.

For Silver hoppers there is a list at the bottom if you are looking for today's snowflake.

Today, I am sharing a little bit of my holiday memories and running a contest for today and tomorrow.  Leave a comment listing my favorite gift and one of my hated foods along with your email address.  If you get them right, I'll draw names for a $5.00 amazon gift card or you can pick a book from my back list or a copy of my January 2013 release.  Good luck!

The holiday season has changed for me as I have matured (gotten older, aged, wizened…yeah, I'm not young anymore, just youngish). 

As a child, it was about the surprised on Christmas morning from Santa Claus. The holiday season always started with the music and the classic TV shows that we watched every year like clockwork: Charlie Brown's Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Jack Frost, Frosty the Snowman, A Christmas Carole, 

Miracle on 34^th Street, It's a Wonderful Life (at least a half dozen times). The extended family got together and we could play with our cousins, compare toys, and eat an insane amount of pie, cake, and cookies. We helped mom make all the holiday candies: caramel apples, peanut brittle, rice crispy treats, divinity (super yum), several different types of fudge, brownies, and some concoction of cookie dough, chocolate chips, caramel, and brownie mix. We 

ate like there was no tomorrow and were still stick thin because playing outside was a must.

Nostalgia hits me hard around this time of year and I find myself thumbing through the picture albums and texting people saying, "Hey! You remember when…" I had tried to recreate the holidays of my youth and never could. There were different people, different places, and different customs. Recreating the food didn't set the atmosphere because everything had changed and I 

had to find my own typical holiday. When you're a kid, burning to grow up and get out on your own you don't take into account that everything changes, you don't realize that you can't pick or choose.

Creating your own holiday experience is very much a journey to learning who you are as an individual. I slowly moved away from mimicking the holidays of my elders and found my own traditions for reasons that were personal and important to me. I still enjoy visiting and eating holiday dishes I don't typically have. But it doesn't bother me 

anymore that holidays at my house were different.

Of course there's somethings that I don't miss (the yucky corn casserole, baked beans, or candied yams). I do wish I was able to get together with my extended family. We are all spread out in different cities and states. The upside is I can indulge in my secret love of fruitcake without being picked on. (I seriously don't understand the stigma surround the dessert.)

As a child my most favorite Christmas was related to the very first picture on this post. It was the year that I got my very own Tonka Truck.  Count them, there were three trucks under the tree and the only thing I remember is that I got a truck just like my brothers.  Those were the metal ones, too.  Tonka tough!  We'd race them by bracing both hands on the sides and running down the sidewalk. My shoelaces would frequently come undone and one day I was running the truck, my laces wrapped around the back wheels and I went face first over the top of the truck into the cement. I still loved my truck!

Thank you for sticking around and listening to me ramble through my holiday memories.  I broke out the photo albums and attached some family remembrances.  I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday season!  xoxo

You can find me on:

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Blog: Click Here

Email: lexi.ander.author@gmail.com

Here is your list and GOOD LUCK!

Lexi Ander
Link: http://bit.ly/TQylNf

Sarah Bella
Link: http://bit.ly/Q2OBwD

William Cooper
Link: http://bit.ly/Q1QWb8

D. McEntire
Link: http://bit.ly/U0T8Ow

T. C. Archer
Link: http://bit.ly/ZPeanw

Tarah Scott
Link: http://bit.ly/S5NQ3S

The Mischief Corner
Link: http://bit.ly/WjBZnv

Lily Harlem
Link: http://bit.ly/T8sdSe

Maria MoonStar
Link: http://bit.ly/U0QJDC

S.A. Garcia
Link: http://bit.ly/Q1RgXj

Marie Ashley
Link: http://bit.ly/QlHvVl

Eve Tesoro
Link: http://bit.ly/RKyiCQ

Silver Blog
Link: http://bit.ly/Wi7uyq

Scarlet Blackwell - author of Homeless at Christmas
Link: http://bit.ly/105J6z4

NJ Neilsen - author of A Moon-Runner Christmas
Link: http://bit.ly/T8ETth

TN Tarrant - author of A Not So Straight Christmas
Link: http://on.fb.me/U72w5h

Karly Maddison - author of A Puppy for Christmas
Link: http://bit.ly/T8rHDE

Toni Griffin - author of A Very Holland Christmas
Link: http://bit.ly/QPwBXG

Cheyenne Meadows - author of Christmas with Mesa
Link: http://bit.ly/ZPfDKx

Heidi Lynn Anderson - author of Christmas Longing
Link: http://bit.ly/U0Rnkq

LM Brown - author of Someone Like You
Link: http://bit.ly/UMtXnb

Vicktor Alexander - author of Chocolate Vanilla Swirl
Link: http://bit.ly/RKyO3J

Jannie Lund - author of Clear as Glass
Link: http://bit.ly/SCpA7T

Piper Whitney - author of Fractured Heart
Link: http://bit.ly/T4jzlg

Nicole Dennis - author of 7 Days of Christmas
Link: http://bit.ly/SW7Rc6

Kim Fielding - author of Joys R Us
Link: http://bit.ly/105Kz8z

Silvia Violet - author of Needing a Little Christmas
Link: http://bit.ly/XmrQIb

Elyzabeth M. VaLey - author of Punishing Santa
Link: http://bit.ly/T8ECGK

Freddy MacKay - author of Snowed
Link: http://bit.ly/UMqEfI

Annabelle Jacobs - author of Snowflakes and Strangers
Link: http://bit.ly/S23OxE/

Pelaam - author of Christmas Magic
Link: http://on.fb.me/Wjy5Lw

Rebecca Leigh - author of The Angel's Fall
Link: http://bit.ly/ZP8wBK

N Phillips - author of The Christmas Mix Up
Link: http://on.fb.me/108x33S

Grace Roselyn - author of The Treasure of Christmas
Link: http://bit.ly/QlEWCG

Ellen Heights - author of Three Men and a Christmas Goddess
Link: http://bit.ly/XokyDJ

Mathilde Watson:
Link: http://bit.ly/U73dvb

Andi Anderson
Link: http://bit.ly/QQzKGO

Lillian Frances - author of When Love Flue In
Link: http://bit.ly/T8EYNw

Azura Ice - author of Wrapped Around Your Handlebars
Link: http://bit.ly/TQx5tz

Ashlynn Monroe - author of A Most Unexpected Gift
Link: http://bit.ly/UMrwRz

SJD Peterson
Link: http://bit.ly/TKh8mv

EM Lynley
Link: http://bit.ly/QlFDMi

Gregg A. Endless
Link: http://bit.ly/SUVXPH

Elinor Gray
Link: http://bit.ly/Xmt06v

Emma Paul
Link: http://bit.ly/Jt6lLH

Caitlin Ricci
Link: http://bit.ly/T8FWt6

Vona Logan
Link: http://bit.ly/U737nB

M.A. Stacie
Link: http://bit.ly/S25gA1

Dawn H. Hawkes
Link: http://bit.ly/SUWfpG

Meredith Russell
Link: http://bit.ly/QPvCae

R.J. Scott
Link: http://bit.ly/UMshK8

Lisa Worrall
Link: http://bit.ly/RKzzKe

Trillium
Link: http://bit.ly/Uyvhnv

Jessica E. Subject
Link: http://bit.ly/XQIgaW

RC Bonitz
Link: http://bit.ly/T3dRjD

December Promo Scavenger Hunt With Free Holiday Story Book Give Away and Site Wide Discount Code Scramble

Happy holidays! Silver Publishing wants to give our fans more than 60 chances to win either a free Holiday Story from our 25 Days of Christmas Releases or for a lucky random five 20% off codes! And if you are really dedicated there is a Word Scramble included that will provide a discount for titles purchased during the last week of December! 

To make it even more exciting, the authors participating may offer new and interesting content or contests of their own to help distract from the frantic pace of the holidays. 

So, how does it work? 

In a nutshell: Find all the snowflakes every day, email us at promotions@spsilverpublishing.com with the author name/date for each snowflake you find, check our blog daily to see if you won and then use the pertinent snowflakes to spell out an additional discount code to use at the end of the month.

Not in a nutshell: Participants go to the following blogs every day in December and find the hidden snowflakes. There will be at least two, sometimes three snowflakes to be found among the list of facebook/blogs/websites below for our authors. The snowflake will look like a variation of this: 

Find them all for the maximum amount of chances to win.

Once you find the snowflake, note the letter, number or character as well as the numerical indicator (if present) on the snowflake for the scramble. The numbered snowflakes will line up to spell out your discount code.

Email us at promotions@silverpublishing.com with the name of the blog/website where the snowflakes were hidden on that date.

Important email format: Please put only the name of one author and the date in your subject line - for maximum chances to win, each snowflake/author found should be its own email for an increased daily chance to win.

If your email subject line includes the correct answer you will be entered into a random drawing to win the Christmas Release for the day you found the snowflake. There will be at least 2 winners per day; five days there will be 3 winners.

Winners will be notified in our new BLOG here: http://bit.ly/Wi7uyq = (bookmark this link so that you can check back each day.) If you are the winner for that day, email us with your email address and format desired to promotions@silverpublishing.com so that we can get your prize to you quickly.

Helpful hints: Some authors will have more than one snowflake during the event. But authors will only post one snowflake per day so search them all every day. Don’t leave any out for maximum chances to win.

Once you have found all the snowflakes, line up the letters, characters and numbers based on the numerical indicator (when present) to spell out our Holiday message and receive a discount code that will be active from Dec 25 – 31st.

Not every participating author has a Holiday release but you’ll want to collect the snowflake on their site for another chance to win the story being released that day. And…they might have one of the five valuable discount snowflakes we’ve hidden with your chance to win that day.

If the authors are running additional contests, take advantage for additional ways to win throughout the month.

Here is your list and GOOD LUCK!

Lexi Ander
Link: http://bit.ly/TQylNf

Sarah Bella
Link: http://bit.ly/Q2OBwD

William Cooper
Link: http://bit.ly/Q1QWb8

D. McEntire
Link: http://bit.ly/U0T8Ow

T. C. Archer
Link: http://bit.ly/ZPeanw

Tarah Scott
Link: http://bit.ly/S5NQ3S

The Mischief Corner
Link: http://bit.ly/WjBZnv

Lily Harlem
Link: http://bit.ly/T8sdSe

Maria MoonStar
Link: http://bit.ly/U0QJDC

S.A. Garcia
Link: http://bit.ly/Q1RgXj

Marie Ashley
Link: http://bit.ly/QlHvVl

Eve Tesoro
Link: http://bit.ly/RKyiCQ

Silver Blog
Link: http://bit.ly/Wi7uyq

 

Scarlet Blackwell - author of Homeless at Christmas
Link: http://bit.ly/105J6z4

NJ Neilsen - author of A Moon-Runner Christmas
Link: http://bit.ly/T8ETth

 

TN Tarrant - author of A Not So Straight Christmas
Link: http://on.fb.me/U72w5h

 

Karly Maddison - author of A Puppy for Christmas
Link: http://bit.ly/T8rHDE

 

Toni Griffin - author of A Very Holland Christmas
Link: http://bit.ly/QPwBXG

 

Cheyenne Meadows - author of Christmas with Mesa
Link: http://bit.ly/ZPfDKx

 

Heidi Lynn Anderson - author of Christmas Longing
Link: http://bit.ly/U0Rnkq

 

LM Brown - author of Someone Like You
Link: http://bit.ly/UMtXnb

 

Vicktor Alexander - author of Chocolate Vanilla Swirl
Link: http://bit.ly/RKyO3J

 

Jannie Lund - author of Clear as Glass
Link: http://bit.ly/SCpA7T

 

Piper Whitney - author of Fractured Heart
Link: http://bit.ly/T4jzlg

 

Nicole Dennis - author of 7 Days of Christmas
Link: http://bit.ly/SW7Rc6

 

Kim Fielding - author of Joys R Us
Link: http://bit.ly/105Kz8z

 

Silvia Violet - author of Needing a Little Christmas
Link: http://bit.ly/XmrQIb

 

Elyzabeth M. VaLey - author of Punishing Santa
Link: http://bit.ly/T8ECGK

 

Freddy MacKay - author of Snowed
Link: http://bit.ly/UMqEfI

 

Annabelle Jacobs - author of Snowflakes and Strangers
Link: http://bit.ly/S23OxE/

 

Pelaam - author of Christmas Magic
Link: http://on.fb.me/Wjy5Lw

 

Rebecca Leigh - author of The Angel's Fall
Link: http://bit.ly/ZP8wBK

 

N Phillips - author of The Christmas Mix Up
Link: http://on.fb.me/108x33S

 

Grace Roselyn - author of The Treasure of Christmas
Link: http://bit.ly/QlEWCG

 

Ellen Heights - author of Three Men and a Christmas Goddess
Link: http://bit.ly/XokyDJ

 

Mathilde Watson:
Link: http://bit.ly/U73dvb

Andi Anderson
Link: http://bit.ly/QQzKGO

 

Lillian Frances - author of When Love Flue In
Link: http://bit.ly/T8EYNw

 

Azura Ice - author of Wrapped Around Your Handlebars
Link: http://bit.ly/TQx5tz

 

Ashlynn Monroe - author of A Most Unexpected Gift
Link: http://bit.ly/UMrwRz

 

SJD Peterson
Link: http://bit.ly/TKh8mv

 

EM Lynley
Link: http://bit.ly/QlFDMi

 

Gregg A. Endless
Link: http://bit.ly/SUVXPH

 

Elinor Gray
Link: http://bit.ly/Xmt06v

 

Emma Paul
Link: http://bit.ly/Jt6lLH

 

Caitlin Ricci
Link: http://bit.ly/T8FWt6

 

Vona Logan
Link: http://bit.ly/U737nB

 

M.A. Stacie
Link: http://bit.ly/S25gA1

 

Dawn H. Hawkes
Link: http://bit.ly/SUWfpG

Meredith Russell
Link: http://bit.ly/QPvCae

 

R.J. Scott
Link: http://bit.ly/UMshK8

 

Lisa Worrall
Link: http://bit.ly/RKzzKe

 

Trillium
Link: http://bit.ly/Uyvhnv

 

Jessica E. Subject
Link: http://bit.ly/XQIgaW

RC Bonitz
Link: http://bit.ly/T3dRjD

Free Read - Alpha Trine

So I was on GoodReads Gay Sci-Fi Group back in August and I noticed that they had some prompts for stories up.  I kept chastising myself because, really, I didn't need another WIP.  I already had a half dozen as well as two series to work on.  But I couldn't help myself and I picked a prompt and went with it.  The short story, well it wasn't so short, 41k and change, and...it's a series.  There will be at least two more installments to this storyline.  This is my first venture into sci-fi.  It's a little harder to write but I fell love with the characters and the world/universe has so much potential.  I hope you enjoy my little offering.

Currently it is available for download at my GoodReads author page Download here at GoodReads and in the next week or so it will be available for download at Amazon and ARe.

A special Thank You to Tabatha Heart for the awesome cover she designed for me.  I love it!

Gay Science Fiction Group Story Prompt

Intergalactic mm romance between a human space mechanic genius and an alien that morphs to be "human" when they mate.  Have a way for the "alien" to be able to reproduce despite being male without the aid of technology for the pregnancy itself.  Maybe technology was involved in the past and they "evolved" to be able to continue the alien species?  HEA of course.  Maybe a start of a series? Up to the author. I like series. 

Blurb:

Zeus was two months old and the sole survivor on a science vessel in deep space found by the Mar’Sani. The blind infant was swept up by the grieving Empress Ashari and adopted by Emperor Valdor Vondorian as their fourth child. Zeus grew up in a loving home but his frailty as the only human among his strong reptilian brothers caused his parents to seek the help of the Chtichlians, the expert arachnid geneticists, to fix their son’s sight.

Zeus discovers that having his sight is harder than being blind and he learns to not trust his eyes. His family believes he is the reincarnation of their lost child Canry, but there are those Mar’Sani nobles who only see him as the orphaned human, and not worth of the Emperor’s family name.

Dargon Kal-Turak is a Dar Massaga, he and his symbiote, Alpha; command a ship of manned by members of some of the most dangerous races. After narrowly escaping a trap, Dargon and his crew dock at the spaceport for repairs. It isn’t long before the Psonics have their location. Dargon snatches the Master Mechanic and limps out of port not realizing he has bought more trouble…and maybe the answer to salvaging the Valespian Pact.

Content Warning: M/M/M-Alien.  Yes, this means that there is hot alien smexin'.

Super Secret! Excerpt of Dreams of the Forgotten, Book 3 of Sumeria's Sons

Thank you for hanging out with me today at the Silver Facebook page today.  I had fun talking with everybody and look forward to doing it again soon. Here is an except from Dreams of the the Forgotten.  Enjoy!  Read away because this page will be taken down later tonight.

Check back tomorrow and I will have more information on my not-so-short freebie, Alpha Trine (The Valespian Pact #1).

Unedited Blurb for Dreams of the Forgotten (Sumeria's Sons #3) Coming March 26, 2013

Tristan and Ushna are building a secure infrastructure for their rapidly growing tribe and family.  Tristan is plagued by dreams he barely remembers.  The return of childhood friends is anything but joyous.  The Mechanizations of assassins are uncovered.  The Magi and Warrior Orders are in chaos.  The children of Tristan’s former Twin Flame are winning a place in their hearts as Tristan nemesis, Daniel Sullivan, causes more confusion.  Amidst it all, Tristan struggles with the urge to bind Ushna to him but he can’t because Ushna already had a Flame waiting for rebirth.  Tristan would do anything to protect that bond, even if it means losing Ushna in the next lifetime—unless he remembers his dreams of the forgotten. 

The sun was warm on my naked body, white haze over my closed eyes.  The grass was slightly itchy against my skin but I didn't care.  I, Tristan Janick, felt whole.  I hadn't felt like that in such a long time.  Not since I’d let my former Twin Flame claim me then turn around and refused me in return.  The euphoria from the sex, the orgasm, and the effect of the bonding bite had quickly dissipated with his denial.  I didn't find peace and was forced to break the bond. Even with my husband, Ushna Ahura-Yzda, the man who meant more to me than life itself, I was less.  Breaking the bond with my Twin Flame took something from me, something vital that left me incomplete. 

Sometimes I wondered if that was the reason why my predator, that primal part of me, desired to claim Ushna so much.  I could feel it, the possibility of being complete, whole with him.  The temptation to reach out and grab it was always there, but then I’d see Brian’s handsome youthful face, reminded that my husband, Ushna would never be completely mine.  All Lycans were blessed with a Bashert, a destine Twin Flame, someone who would love them and be the balance, the eternal companion.  Brian would've been Ushna’s Twin Flame if he had survived to adulthood.  My consort would've never paid me another look as a potential partner because he would've had his Twin Flame.  Why would they need me?

But here and now, I felt wonderful.  It was a gift and I basked in it because I didn't know when this feeling would go away again.  I breathed in the clean, warm salty air as I listened to the water trickle close by.  A hand landed on my flat stomach and stroked, petted almost, and I refused to open my eyes and break whatever spell I was under.  Mentally I followed that hand down my stomach to the nest of pubic hair, the fingers running through the curls, not touching me anywhere else, even though I was steadily growing hard.  Hot breath blew in my ear, sending shivers down my spine, and I smiled with closed eyes.

Footsteps approached before cold water started sprinkling down on me.  The contrast between the cool droplets and my sun warmed skin made me inhale sharply and sit up with a yelp.  Deep soothing laughter sounded at my side but I ignored it as I looked into the blue eyes of a huge, wet white wolf.  His nose touched mine, tongue lolling to the side as he regarded me in return. 

He was beautiful.

“Did you have to do that, Nikita?” asked the laughing voice.  I glanced to the left at the man lying next to me on the grass.  Tall, broad, and dark with arresting green eyes, the man watched me with heat as his hand stroked my naked hip.

I’d know this man, this soul, anywhere.  I wasn't sure how I knew him but I did.  The body and the face were unfamiliar but it was as if I could actually feel his flame, his soul, and recognized it.  I looked back at the white wolf in time to see him transform, falling into his human body.  Nikita wasn't dark but golden.  Sun streaked dark blond hair, piercing blue eyes and a firm, aroused body.  I knew him as well.  I could practically feel the connection between their Flames, but it wasn't the man next to me that Nikita was looking at with desire.  He was gazing at me as if he would devour me in front of his Twin Flame and my fight or flight response kick in.

I quickly crab walked backwards to put distance in between us.

“Look, Angelo, Seth thinks to run from us,” said Nikita, his voice deep and husky.  As his eyes held mine as he prowled seductively towards me growling low.  Why did he call me Seth?  I should been terrified.  I should been running.  Angelo had been touching me moments ago and he wasn't my Flame, he wasn't bonded to me but to Nikita.  The growl from Nikita didn't scare me though.  I was hard and aching, and Gods help me, I wanted him to touch me.

Angelo reached out and grabbed my ankle with a hot hand before I could get too far and my whole body shivered with his touch.  Nikita and Angelo crawled towards me with heated looks of passion and desire.  They stroked and petted as they crawled up my body, my calves, and my thighs.  Nikita licked from my thigh to my navel and I clamped my lips shut to keep from moaning aloud.  This wasn't right.  Bonded Flames didn't take on a third.  Did they?  I was having problems thinking when Angelo licked and nibbled my nipple.  Nikita slid a hand in my hair and clasped tightly, directing my gaze to him.  I didn't know if I should push them away, run, or sink into the ground.  I was confused and not sure what was going on.  Why were they treating me this way?

“You cannot run from us Seth.  We've already talked about this.”  Nikita’s blue eyes held mine steadfast.  The desire was there, but there was more emotion, a softness to his brilliant blue eyes as he gazed at me.  “We want you, both of us.  We want you to be with us.  You know this.  Do you not love us, Seth?”  Nikita’s eyes clouded with worry.  “Do you not want us?”

I opened my mouth to apologize, tell Nikita I was sorry, but my lips didn't say those words.  “You know I love you and Angelo with everything I am.  I just worry…the Gods, they didn't mean for this.  Twin Flames are a sacred gift from Shamash.  What if I ruin what is between you and Angelo?  The Priests say there can only be two.”

“When was the last time the priests have actually spoken to the Gods?  What if the Gods aren't all knowing, omnipotent, and there is more than Twin Flames?  I know you can feel it.  You need to claim us.  I can feel it in your wolf struggle against you.  He knows what must be done, but you don’t trust him because some priest says it is not the will of the Gods.  The Gods only have as much power over you as you give them, Seth.  Can they perceive what I or Angelo feels for you?  I say no, they cannot!  They stay in their paradise and forget we’re here.  They don’t form families so how can they know what a family is supposed to be, how love is supposed to be?  Our love isn't empty, or fleeting, like what was offered in the desecrated temples of Inanna.  Her followers only know the love of the flesh of the body.  Angelo and I, we love all of you.  Your Flame belongs with us; you only have to believe in it.  Have faith in us.  Claim us Seth, and bind us together.  You know it is the right thing to do.”

“Nikita.”  His name came out of my mouth with longing.  His eyes blazed as they looked at me, his hand tightening in my hair.  Angelo sucked on my collar bone and before I knew it they bore me to the ground, their bodies covering mine.  Nikita took my lips as if he was going to conquer me.  My mind was screaming at me about the sanctity of the Flame’s bond, but my body was burning up from their touch, and I didn't know what to do.  Nikita released my lips only for Angelo to take over as someone took my shaft in his hand and squeezed.  My hips bucked, moans escaped me no matter how I tried to hold them back.

“Tell us, Seth.  Tell us what we want to hear,” Angelo whispered in my ear.

I shook my head.  No.  Oh, Gods, no, I couldn't say it. 

“Tell us.  Say it.”  Nikita nipped my ear lobe.

Overwhelmed with sensation, the smell of the two of them, so familiar, so much like home, called to me.  The beast within me pushed forward to answer their call, to do what I was so afraid to do.

“You know what I want to hear,” Angelo said in my ear, his emerald green eyes so like Ushna’s  giving me a look I couldn't resist. 

Suddenly I wanted to give up, to give them whatever it was they desired.  I longed to lose myself in them, remembering the sorrow of before, and I had no desire to go back to that.  I needed them, wanted them, and yearned to bond with them.  Today.  Tomorrow.  Always.  I never wanted to be without them.  With them, I was home.  They had always been there with me.  I understood then.  The incarnations, all the lives, the experiences, these two were there, always with me, always watching, always wanting, always inviting, and needing me as much as I needed them.  But something always came in, and tore us apart, and we were running out of time.

It was always me.  I held back afraid, scared, and believed they weren't meant for me.  All I had ever needed to do was reach out, take them, and bind them to me.  Then something would happen, something would change.  I felt a new urgency.  The scenery wasn't as sharp and I could feel the time slipping away from me, from us, and I had to stop it.  I had to claim them, to bond with them. 

To save them.

“I love you,” I whispered as I desperately clutch them to me only for them to slip through my fingers!  No!  Not yet!  I needed more time!  Please!  I screamed into the void for them, calling all the names I’d ever known them by.  I prayed for the Gods to please, give them back to me.  “I love you!”  I bellowed into the dark.  “Wait for me!  I will come for you!  ”

CHAPTER ONE

Nine Weeks Pregnant – 45 days until birth of the heirs to the Seat of Zeev, the Wolf Throne.

I woke up with a jolting start, hands clutching at someone, something that wasn't there, my heart pounded like a drum in my chest.

A dream.

It was only a dream and the images were fading fast.  Groggily, I tried to catch it, and bring it back, as I struggled to remember.  It was important.  There was something I wasn't supposed to forget, something I needed to do.  I nearly growled in frustration as the contents of the dream, like smoke, drifted away from me until all I could remember were a pair of piercing blue eyes, hopeful, and pleading.

I scrubbed my hands over my face in frustration.  These dreams plagued me every time I closed my eyes.  I always woke with a sense of urgency but could remember nothing when the fuzziness of sleep cleared.  If I could remember, then maybe I could do something, but as it was, I always woke frustrated and sad.

Hijacking Silver's Facebook Page

I'll be spending today over at Silver Publishing' Facebook page.  That's right, I am hijacking it....AGAIN....and I have a fun day planned with an ebook give-a-way and a super secret surprise at the end.  ~evil cackle~  So come on by, hang out, have some fun!  I will be there from Noon Eastern time to 6:00 p.m.  Don't miss it!!  Oh!  Gee, here's the link....http://www.facebook.com/silverpublishing?ref=stream or you can click there -->> DELINQUENTS WELCOME

She's At It Again

Hi!  It's me...well of course it's me.  Look there already sassin' myself and I haven't even got started.  :)

What I stopped by to tell you: on Saturday, November 17th, from Noon to 6 p.m. Eastern Standard time, I will be hijacking the Silver Facebook page, again.  Amazing isn't it!  I was such a bad girl last ti...okay, okay, I wasn't. But we had fun last month and we are going to have fun again this month.  So stop on by, say "hi", leave a comment or two. I will have new excepts for Twin Flames, Songs of the Earth, Ruby Red Booty Short & A Louisville Slugger, and sneak peak at Dreams of the Forgotten.  Before I leave there I will draw names for an e-book copy of Songs of the Earth.  I'll see you there!

Songs of the Earth Release at Midnight!

At midnight on November 10th, Book 2 of Sumeria's Sons will be released.

I think I am more nervous about this one than I was with the release of Twin Flames.  So much happens with Tristan and Ushna.  And the sex--holy freaking cow--they burn on the pages.  Hands down, my favorite room in that house is the office...  He-he, you'll find out why.

At midnight I'll post the purchase link but while we wait here is an excerpt for Songs of the Earth to entertain us.  For those who seen a the sneak peek at Caitlin's blog lost week--have another look--this excerpt is 1500 words longer.

Purchase Link:  Silver Publishing - Songs of the Earth

Blurb:  Tristan Janick, Prince of the Lycan race, wades through a life of lies and secrets. Hurt by a Goddess who is supposed to protect him, Tristan learns a valuable lesson in trust. Desperate to protect his consort, Ushna, from a growing number of dangers, he prepares to face the worst even as he hopes for a safe future for his family. When a murderer escapes and targets Tristan and Ushna, their small tribe must come together and make a stand.

Chapter One

I sat on my horse, Dancing Socks, in the middle of the river that cut through my property. We were stuck, trapped between two creatures of myth and a Goddess of the Lycan race. Behind me, trying to protect me, were six of my warriors in Lupe battle form.

I was in deep, deep shit. For the life of me, I couldn't see a way out. Two Shirdals―lion-eagles also known as gryphons―one in front of me and one behind, effectively cut off any escape I'd planned to make. There was no way Socks and I could outrun these Sumerian creatures of myth. But they were the least of my problems. What had my full attention was the woman standing before me.

The Goddess Ki, clothed in a long flowing gauzy dress, wore a crown of ram's horns, with a bow and quiver of arrows over her left shoulder and a cudgel hung from her waist. She was holding a lion cub's leash while watching me with stern, assessing eyes.

"Tristan Javed Ksathra Janick, Prince of the Enkidu, do you know who I am?"

How could I or any Lycan not know her? Regardless of what had happened today, I'd believed there was a solution. There was always a way out as long as I was breathing, but this, her, I couldn't fight and win.

"You are the Goddess Ki, consort of Enki, Lady Life, mother of all living things, Nourisher of Kings. I greet you, Goddess. Do with me as you will."

The Goddess smiled a very white smile at me from across the water. "Come to me, Tristan. We have much to discuss," she commanded.

I nudged Socks with my knees and she reluctantly finished crossing the stream, rolling her eyes at the Shirdal. Once out of the water, I guided her a safe distance to the side and dismounted, removing her wet saddle and blanket. Her muscles twitched as she held still for me.

For a moment, I leaned my forehead on Socks's shoulder. She reached around and nibbled at my brown hair. Not a half hour ago, I had left the ranch to go for a ride. The morning had offered many revelations and events that would change the course of my life.

I hadn't expected to find happiness after breaking the bond with my Twin Flame, Theo Sullivan. I hadn't planned on falling in love with my best friend, but I had. Last night, I'd made love to Ushna, and it had been the best night of my life. This morning I'd awakened to find out I was born of royal blood, and Ushna was my chosen consort. Before I could grasp what this meant, the Magi, Caspian MacCuill and a group of Lycan warriors invaded my home and tried to kidnap Ushna and blackmail my friend, Gregori Borchetta, which led to Ushna being shot trying to protect me.

All I had wanted was an hour. One single, measly hour to get my thoughts in order and figure out what the hell to do next. Instead, I was trapped with no way to escape. The only thing I could do now was try to save as many lives as I could. No one stood up to a Goddess and lived.

Reluctantly, I straightened and petted Socks's velvety nose. I reached over and removed her bridle, giving her a smack on the rump to send her away. With luck, she'd make it home safely and not be eaten.

I turned to Ki, ready for whatever fate awaited me at the hands of a Goddess who hadn't walked the Earth in a very, very long time. I didn't take it as good fortune that she was here now.

"So gloomy, Tristan? Do you think so poorly of me that you expect to be struck down by my hand?" Ki asked, head tilted to the side as she looked at me with almond-shaped black eyes.

The Shirdal lay at her feet, allowing the Goddess to scratch the feathers between its ears. It was surreal seeing two things that shouldn't exist in this modern world of skyscrapers, automobiles, space shuttles, and nuclear bombs. Yes, I had an altar in my room where I left burnt offerings to the Warrior Goddess Anat and Shamash, God of Justice. I believed in the Gods and Goddesses, but I never thought one would manifest into my world and actually speak to me.

"I don't mean to offend, Goddess. It's… well… this has been a very unusual day."

She gave me another toothy smile and looked across the water to the Lupes and the other Shirdal. "Please call your warriors to you, Tristan. The Shirdals mean you no harm. They were only playing with you."

I barely held in an ugly snort. Playing with me? I could imagine them playing with me as they tossed me about with their sharp beaks. I turned toward the Lupes and without a word, they entered the water, coming toward me in a straight line.

By the time they'd crossed, they'd changed back into human form. The harshness of the Lupe vanished in so smooth a transition, anyone watching would have questioned what they'd seen but moments before. The warriors quickly came to me and there was much rubbing and touching as I allowed my men to reassure themselves I wasn't harmed. I brushed and stroked them in return until their apprehension sank to a tolerable level, though it didn't go away completely. How could it? There were two lion-eagles and a Goddess here with us, but the men felt better being close to me.

I turned back to the Goddess Ki. I couldn't get the men to move farther away from me than arm's length and honestly, I couldn't blame them. Ki looked at each of my warriors, and I had to fight the urge to step between her and each man she eyed. I knew I couldn't protect them from a Goddess, but my body and brain weren't on the same page.

"You have chosen well in your royal guard. These men have good spirits," the Goddess said approvingly.

"Ah, that isn't exactly what happened." These men had given me a blood oath after they had invaded my territory on false orders provided by the Magi, Caspian MacCuill. It was either that or be judged and die by my hand for committing an act of aggression against the tribal alpha. Belatedly, I wondered if I had violated some God/Goddess 'oathing' rule. It's not like I'd had an instruction book to go by.

The Goddess looked at me with a sharp eye. "We will get back to that in a minute. I want to know why you and your family have hidden from Us?"

My temper flared at Ki's allegation. She had accused me of perpetrating a deception regarding something I hadn't known about nor had had a hand in. I struggled to contain my anger because this was a Goddess who could strike me down. "Pardon me? Goddess, I've hidden from no one."

"It was only recently your magic has called to me. I should've felt you when you were born, and yet here you are. A grown man. Explain this to me."

I ground my teeth together and felt my warriors move closer in reaction. They reminded me I was responsible for more than myself at the moment. "Goddess, I truly don't understand. How can I explain something I don't know myself? It was only earlier today I found out I was of royal blood."

"How is it you did not know?" Ki scrutinized me, not believing me for some reason.

What else could I tell her? I didn't know I was a prince until this morning. It was Ushna who had known what the Emblem of Enki meant. My family hadn't told me we were direct descendants of Enkidu. I'd spent my life as an unremarkable Lycan. Not once was there any indication that I was anything more than average until I claimed Ushna as my lover.

I lifted my shirt to reveal the black iridescent scales of the twin snakes that wound up my chest, "I woke up with this today."

Ki beamed with pleasure. "So, you have found and claimed your Twin Flame?"

I think I may have turned a little green. "My consort is not my Flame."

A little more than seven years ago, I had broken the bond between Theo Sullivan and myself. His lack of regard for me, coupled with his deception and lies, poisoned and almost killed me. The council had warned me I could die from the Breaking, but I'd taken my chances. Anything was better than being bound to a Twin Flame who barely tolerated me.

I had Ushna now. My rock, my best friend, lover, and consort. I wouldn't change a thing that I'd endured because it had brought me to Ushna and his love.

"Do not jest, Tristan." The horror on her face wiped away any apprehension I'd felt a moment before.

"I'm not. I broke with my Twin Flame several years ago." There was nothing abhorrent about the relationship between Ushna and me.

Ki's warm eyes turned hard again. I got the sense she wasn't looking at me but into me. "There is too much that isn't right. I have not been able to find Mithra. He should've heralded your birth and summoned me so I could teach and guide you. Bahram Majeed Ksathra was the last I was tutelary to."

"Goddess, Bahram was born more than three hundred years ago. His line died out. He was childless when he was assassinated," I replied, automatically repeating the Lycan history that had been taught to all of us.

"He wasn't childless if you are standing in front of me, boy. Somehow, Bahram hid his descendants from Us and I want to know why. "

"What do you mean, hiding from you?" I didn't understand how someone could hide from a Goddess.

"Mithra has always been present at the birth of future kings, and he heralds the birth to the Gods. The inherent magic of the Enkidu Kings has always called to me. I am the tutelary to the line of the kings, giving them my milk so they will rule with wisdom and compassion. Mithra has been absent a long time and I have not noticed until now. Time passes differently for Us, but for Mithra to miss so many generations of kingship causes me no small amount of alarm. Even without the herald, I should have been drawn to your power at your birth. Yet, I was not aware of you until recently and then, your magic was muted. It made you hard to find and I wasn't sure until I was able to dance with you last night. I have never come across a royal with power as restrained as yours, so I started looking for my brother Mithra, for surely he would know the reason why. But my search was brought up short. I felt the full force of your power explode across the Earth this day. You became the beacon whose call I could not refuse."

Ki moved closer to me, her eyes traveling over me until she squinted slightly at a point near my right ear. "There is a remnant of something on your aura… camouflaged and entwined… unraveling… a spell perhaps?"

Her fingertips barely brushed my earlobe as she plucked at something, as if pulling an invisible cord. Have you ever had stitches? I had stitches when I was shot as a boy by a poacher. When stitches are cut and removed, you feel that pinch and pull under your skin, not painful but an odd tugging as the string is pulled through.

Take that feeling and multiply it. I could feel the pull under my skin, under the muscle from the center of my chest, moving through me, up my neck and out of my ear. My body convulsed with the sensation. The warriors caught and steadied me until I was able to stand again.

Ki mumbled words in an old tongue and the cord, brown around the edges, came into view. It looked like a shoestring, long and sort of flat but it moved with a life of its own, the dangling tip floating in the air, straining against her hold to get back to me. Instantly, I took a step back and the warriors surrounded me, protecting me from this thing of magic.

"What is it?" I asked.

"A binding, a very good, and a very old one. The spell was made especially for you. It is a binding of magic with something else."

She grabbed the other end of the string and with both hands, brought it to her nose and sniffed. Not delicately like you'd expect from a woman, but strong, purposeful inhalations. Her tongue flicked out and tasted the string and just as quickly she turned her head and spit three times. With angry eyes, she looked at it.

"It was meant to bind your true dominance and the natural magic of your ancestral line. It was also designed to hide you, but why? Who would tempt the wrath of the Gods by hiding Our children from Us?" She stared at the magic string for a moment more before pulling a silk bag from her belt and carefully placing the brown string inside it, cinching the bag tightly and hanging it from her belt again. "You said the last king, Bahram Ksathra, was assassinated. By whom?"

"I don't think anyone knows. He was found in his bed with his throat slit. It was believed he was drugged beforehand because there were no signs of struggle. How could he have had children and no one knew about it? That's a hard secret to keep for a sovereign," I said. I tried to recall my history lessons but no other information came to mind.

"Maybe he knew he was being hunted and hid his children from the start. There is much that goes on here that does not make sense. I'll have to talk to my sisters. When did you first start feeling the stirrings of power?" Ki asked.

"When Ushna went Lupe a couple of weeks ago in Seattle. I wondered if it was a trigger." I remembered how the power had slowly released while holding Ushna in Lupe form.

"The Lupe will call to your blood because you are the anchor to all warriors but it wouldn't have broken the type of binding I found unless the binding was weakened by another event. You said you broke with your Twin Flame?"

I bristled. "About eight years ago, I had our connection severed."

I'm sure she noticed my defensive posture, but she didn't say anything. Her brow furrowed. "The royal line always finds their Twin Flame and the Flame always becomes the consort. It hasn't been any other way since the beginning." She continued to study me. "There is a part of you missing, Tristan. It was torn away cleanly, but I can still see the edges, like a wound that hasn't entirely healed. It must have nearly killed you. Was the grievance so great you had to do this to yourself?" Tears shone in her eyes.

I wasn't sure what she was seeing and I didn't think I wanted to know. Living through it had been enough for me.