Guest Post: New Audiobook Release Through the Last Door by J.A. Jaken #excerpt #mmfantasy

Back in 2015 I wrote a review for Through the Last Door by J.A. Jaken. (See review here.) It is an awesome fantasy with a slow burn romance spiced with intrigue and adventure. And it now has been released on audio!! *happy wiggles*

Title: Through the Last Door (Audiobook)
Series: Sacred Guardian #1
Author: J.A. Jaken
Genre: m/m romance, fantasy, adventure
Length: 13 hours 37 minutes (134,000 words)
Narrator: Dan Calley
Audiobook publication date: 4/27/2021

Buy Links:
Audible: http://bit.ly/TTLDaudio
Amazon: http://getBook.at/TTLD
iTunes: COMING SOON

Sacred Guardian Series Webpage: http://jajaken.com/novels/sacredguardianseries.htm

Summary: When Kaori Sansa's father dies, he is forced to return home to claim the throne as the rightful heir of the country of Kazure. In the aftermath of his father's death, he learns that the country he loves is riddled with corruption, and is hovering on the brink of war. Will he be able to hold the kingdom together despite the odds that are stacked against it, and somehow unlock the buried powers of Shinja, the Sacred Beast of Kazure?

Author Bio

J.A. Jaken has been writing fictional stories and novels for more than ten years, most frequently in the fantasy and science fiction genres. She got her start in the profession writing slash fanfiction, where she has published numerous stories under the pen-name Rushlight. Over the years she has written short stories and novels in genres ranging from science fiction/fantasy to gothic horror to modern detective mysteries, most with at least a touch of m/m romance to them. She lives at home in the southwestern U.S. with her college-aged son, a cat, and the family Rottweiler. Outside of writing, her interests include studying foreign languages, practicing martial arts, riding horses, and collecting medieval weaponry.

Author's email: jajakenfiction@gmail.com
Author's website: http://jajaken.com/
Author's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/jajakenfiction
Author's Twitter page: https://twitter.com/#!/jajakenfiction
Goodreads book page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23511477-through-the-last-door

Excerpt

"You really should try to eat something, High Lord," Ishaya said.

Kaori closed his eyes. The smell of the food--while undoubtedly well-prepared and mouth-watering--was making him feel ill. But if he hadn't eaten all day, then neither had Hunter. And Hunter would not eat before he did; not out of a misguided overabundance of fealty, but because he was as much of a mother hen as Ishaya was.

Reluctantly, he selected a plate of light crackers and cheeses, adding a pile of thin-sliced veal at Haku's insistence. The food clung to his throat when he tried to swallow, without any taste at all. He nodded gratefully when Haku handed him a cup of spiced wine to wash it down with.

"You, too," he said, frowning in Hunter's direction. "Don't tell me you aren't hungry."

Hunter made no move to accept the offer. "I want to be sure you have enough to eat first," he said. "You need--"

"There's more than enough here to feed all of us if we want it, and half the grounds staff besides. Eat, damn you."

A small smile touched Hunter's face as he slid down to sit at Kaori's other side and reached for a plate, piling it high with sliced veal and fruit. "If you insist." There was an ironic twist to the words.

The familiar byplay made something inside Kaori's chest loosen. Hunter, at least, wasn't treating him any differently because his father had died. Taking comfort from the shoulder brushing so warmly against his, he finally found the courage to look up and meet Ishaya's eyes.

"There are probably things I need to know," he said. The words felt heavy in his mouth. "Affairs of state, or... something." He felt lost.

Ishaya smiled kindly at him. "There's no need for you to worry about that tonight, High Lord." His eyes were soft. "Rest assured that all is running as it should within your kingdom. For tonight, at least, you have no responsibilities other than spending time with your friend."

"I'd like to hear about that university in Gyre," Haku said, selecting a grape from the platter and taking a slow bite from it. "What was it like, living over there? Was it horrible?"

"No, it wasn't horrible at all. Gyre is really a wonderful place. Let me tell you about the campus where I was living...." Kaori was glad for the delay in having to face his new reality for that much longer. He felt more relaxed now as he talked about the country he had spent the past three years visiting, the things he'd learned there, the culture, the language, the people. In return, Haku told him about the trials he'd passed in order to become a member of the Palace Guard, and some of the campaigns he'd been on. Kaori was unsettled to realize that his friend had significant battle experience now, and had even killed on occasion, when it had become necessary. That image jarred discordantly with the image of the childhood companion he carried around in his mind's eye. In many ways, this new Haku seemed a stranger to Kaori; the thought made him feel sad. But time moved on, and people changed. That was the way of the world.

At length, he began to feel quite sleepy. He realized with some surprise that he had eaten more than he thought he'd be able to.

"Your room has been prepared," Ishaya said, drawing his attention, "if you'd like to retire for the night."

Kaori caught himself in the middle of another yawn and ducked his head embarrassedly. He really was very tired. The thought of going to sleep as if nothing untoward had happened disturbed him, but at the same time he wanted it desperately, wanted the dark and the temporary oblivion it offered.

"Yes," he said, sighing. "I think I'd better." He smiled, feeling very much aware of his friends sitting around him like a balustrade, like armor, sitting with him so he wouldn't have to be alone on this night of all nights. "Thank you."

He got up to walk out of the room, but stopped before he reached the doorway. Turning around, he met Haku's eyes and asked, "Did my father suffer at all?"

Haku hesitated before replying. "It wasn't easy for him," he said at last. "But what is, in this life?"

Ishaya leaned forward in agitation. "Haku!" he said sharply, with a disapproving frown. "There was no reason for him to know--"

Haku shrugged, unimpressed by the other man's ire. "We shouldn't get into the habit of lying to him. Life is hard, and it's only going to get harder." He glanced in Kaori's direction, his gaze contemplative. "Especially for him."

The words sent a wave of coldness washing through Kaori, but he nodded agreeably enough. "Thank you, Haku." Feeling numb, he left the room.

He'd taken nearly five full steps before he realized that Hunter had fallen in beside him. Glancing at the man irritably, he said, "You'd better get some sleep, too."

"Of course." Hunter's tone was nonchalant. It occurred to Kaori that he'd never once seen the other man sleep. He just always seemed to be there, watching over him.

"Seriously, Hunter." That thought worried him, for some reason. "I don't think you have to worry about anyone trying to assassinate me here in the palace tonight."

"No," Hunter said agreeably. "You should be safe enough here."

"So get some rest. Please."

Hunter's eyes were extraordinarily dark when they looked at him. For the first time, Kaori wondered if he was mourning Akashi's passing, too. Had the two of them been close at all? They must have been, for Akashi to have assigned Hunter the task of protecting his only heir.

"I will," Hunter said after a moment's pause. "Promise me you'll get some sleep as well. Don't just lie awake, worrying."

It had been nearly three years since Kaori had last slept in a room alone. Having a roommate had been troublesome for him at first, but he'd swiftly grown accustomed to the sound of another breath in the darkness next to his own. All of a sudden, he missed Ben so poignantly it brought a physical ache to his chest.

"Yes," he said, wondering if he sounded half as insincere as he felt. "I promise."

They walked in silence the rest of the way to Kaori's room. At this hour, there was no one else out and about in the corridors. The emptiness of the palace was unsettling, as if it were inhabited by nothing more than ghosts, or memories. Kaori wasn't sure which of the two would be worse.

He paused outside the door to his bedroom when he reached it, staring hard at the elaborate whorls etched into the polished wood. At his side Hunter waited patiently, as if sensing that he needed to find the courage to speak.

"Everything's changed," he said at last. There was no one else he could have made such an admission to, not even Haku. "And I don't think... I don't think I can be what they need from me."

"Nonsense." Hunter's tone was kind. "You've spent the past two years--nearly three--studying politics and economic stratagems. You're already more educated than your father ever hoped of being."

"My father was a great warrior."

"It takes more than war to rule a country."

"I'm too young. The lords of the Council are going to laugh at me if I try to tell them what to do."

"I assure you they won't."

"They'll be right to. I don't know anything. I mean, I do, but it's all book knowledge. I don't know anything about their fears, about the issues they're facing."

"You'll learn. The important thing to remember is that you aren't alone. We're all here for you, and we're rooting for you. We'll help you all that we can."

Hunter. Haku. Ishaya. Kaori smiled slightly at that reminder. "I'm probably going to fall on my ass."

The corner of Hunter's mouth curled upward. "If you do, you'll pick yourself up again. You'll make mistakes, you'll learn from them, and life will go on. Your father made more than his fair share of them."

That made Kaori raise his head, surprise widening his eyes. The thought that his father might have been fallible rocked the foundations of his world.

After a moment, he asked, "Do you miss him?"

For a moment, it didn't look as if Hunter was going to answer. Then he turned away with a small sigh, so soft Kaori almost couldn't hear it.

"I think you have the potential to be a far greater ruler than your father ever had a hope of being," he said, without looking at Kaori's eyes. "I think people are going to assume, at first, that you might be just like him... and that they'll be pleasantly surprised when they find out you're not."

Kaori turned those last statements over in his head and tried to determine if, taken as a whole, they amounted to a compliment for him, or for his father. He decided he was too tired to come to a coherent conclusion and that he'd do best to just let it go for now.

He slid the fingers of one hand over the surface of his door, feeling the familiar warmth of it slide in through his skin. "Promise me," he said, staring down at his hand. "Promise me... you aren't going to change. Promise me you'll never treat me any differently because of... of what I am."

Hunter turned to look at him then, surprise at the words tightening the skin between his brows. A moment later, his expression softened. "Is that an order, High Lord?"

Kaori frowned. "No. It's not. It's only a request."

Hunter nodded seriously. "Then unfortunately, I'm going to have to decline. I can't promise never to change. I don't know anyone who could do that." When Kaori opened his mouth to speak, he said, "But I will promise always to treat you as I have in the past."

"Like an obsessive mother hen, you mean," Kaori said, subsiding with a grin.

"If you'd like to think of it that way." Hunter's eyes sparkled. "But seriously, Kaori. You don't have anything to worry about. No matter what happens, I'll always be by your side."

It was ridiculous, how much comfort that promise gave him. Kaori was struck by the sudden urge to ask the other man to go into his bedroom with him, just so he wouldn't have to sleep alone.

Flustered, he turned back toward his door. "Go get some sleep, then. You promised."

"I did." Hunter lifted a hand and ruffled Kaori's hair, his palm settling in a warm, heavy weight on the top of his scalp. "You go to sleep, too."

Kaori repressed a shiver. "I told you I would." He pushed open the door and stepped into his room, feeling strangely bereft when the other man's hand fell away from his hair.

He didn't look back when he closed the door.

My Thoughts: The Last Door by J. A. Jaken, Excerpt, Giveaway

I promised myself that this year I would write more reviews for the books that I loved. I'm glad that I picked this one. It was a delightful gem that ensnared me from the first page.

Kaori Sansa is the heir to the seat of the High Lord of Kazure and away attending university. On the cusp of graduation he learns of his father’s sudden untimely death. His father, Akashi, was a larger than life figure, one that Kaori didn’t believe he could live up to. He and his father were such different people. Kaori the scholar his father didn’t understand, and Akashi the war hero and ruthless leader that Kaori barely knew. Taking up the mantle of High Lord comes with more dangers than Kaori would have ever guessed.

But Kaori isn’t alone. He has Hunter his bodyguard from the Assassin’s Guild who has been at his side since Kaori was six.  Haku Tomana, his childhood friend, who is now a Guard of Heavens Gate. Plus there is his father’s adviser and Kaori’s former teacher, Ishaya Kamahize. All three come together to give Kaori much needed support.

From the beginning, the comfortable relationship between Kaori and Hunter was very important to Kaori. Hunter wasn’t only his trusted bodyguard but also his friend and as the story unfolds, it was easy to see how much more the two wanted but didn’t dare to wish for.

““How do you deal with fear?” Kaori asked curiously, momentarily distracted from his examination of the landscape outside the window. 

Hunter smiled slightly. An expression chased across his eyes, there and then gone, that Kaori had never seen there before. It made him shiver without knowing why. 

“Usually, I kill something.””

Both the story and the characters are like onions, each layer revealed something more after I thought I had a grasp on the who and the what. Sometimes the waiting for the next reveal was excruciating because I wanted to know more and gobble it up but this was a story that couldn’t be rushed. 

Kaori began as sweet and endearing as well as very inexperienced in many ways which was quite refreshing from the common theme of a spoiled promiscuous heir. There was something about him that made me worry for him because I could imagine court life crushing the individual presented to me at the beginning of the book. But Kaori was also smart and approached everything with thought and consideration, surprising me and his adversaries.

Sometimes he asked the most naive questions within the hearing range of seasoned advisers and (frustratingly so) no one gave helpful hints when I had already surmised what the issue was… well, there was a couple of times I drew conclusions that were bashed so that kept me second guessing what I thought was going on.

Hunter was my favorite character and I found that most of the sections that I highlighted in the story had to do with him. There is something about wounded heroes that draws me. Hunter was a fighter in so many ways with a quiet strength but he still had secrets that he couldn’t bare for Kaori to know.

““But the thought of Kaori knowing what he had been—what horrible depths he’d had to climb out of—filled Hunter with a biting shame. He didn’t think he could survive it, if Kaori were ashamed of him.””

The writing was excellent leaving me suspicious of everything. Quickly I found myself engaged and invested in the outcome of all the characters. A sentence or two could set a scene to lead me to beautiful vistas or setting the stage for an unknown trepidation. Bits of philosophy highlight some of the character’s insights. The romance was a slow burn that had me rooting for Kaori and Hunter. I loved this Pseudo-Japanese world. I enjoy the subtle insertions of names, place names that have a meaning tying the name to the land and the people. I found the author’s note at the end delightful, giving me that look into the ground laid in the building of this colorful world.

This is a excellent book that I would highly recommend whether you like fantasy, or adventure, or a bit of intrigue. If the author ever writes a sequel, I will be first in line to buy a copy. As it is, I’m going to go look and see if this also comes in paperback because I want it on my bookshelf.

*~*~*~*

Author Name: J.A. Jaken
Book Title: Through the Last Door
Publisher: White Owl Publishing
Book Length: 135,000 words (326 pages)
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure, M/M Romance
Book Release Date: 12/19/2014

Book Description

When Kaori Sansa’s father dies, he is forced to return home to claim the throne as the rightful heir of the country of Kazure. In the aftermath of his father’s death, he learns that the country he loves is riddled with corruption, and is hovering on the brink of war. Will he be able to hold the kingdom together despite the odds that are stacked against it, and somehow unlock the buried powers of Shinja, the Sacred Beast of Kazure?

Buy Links: Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | All Romance (ARe)

Excerpt:

"You really should try to eat something, High Lord," Ishaya said.

Kaori closed his eyes. The smell of the food -- while undoubtedly well-prepared and mouth-watering -- was making him feel ill. But if he hadn't eaten all day, then neither had Hunter. And Hunter would not eat before he did; not out of a misguided overabundance of fealty, but because he was as much of a mother hen as Ishaya was.

Reluctantly, he selected a plate of light crackers and cheeses, adding a pile of thin-sliced veal at Haku's insistence. The food clung to his throat when he tried to swallow, without any taste at all. He nodded gratefully when Haku handed him a cup of spiced wine to wash it down with.  

"You, too," he said, frowning in Hunter's direction. "Don't tell me you aren't hungry."

Hunter made no move to accept the offer. "I want to be sure you have enough to eat first," he said. "You need--"

"There's more than enough here to feed all of us if we want it, and half the grounds staff besides. Eat, damn you."

A small smile touched Hunter's face as he slid down to sit at Kaori's other side and reached for a plate, piling it high with sliced veal and fruit. "If you insist." There was an ironic twist to the words.

The familiar byplay made something inside Kaori's chest loosen. Hunter, at least, wasn't treating him any differently because his father had died. Taking comfort from the shoulder brushing so warmly against his, he finally found the courage to look up and meet Ishaya's eyes.

"There are probably things I need to know," he said. The words felt heavy in his mouth. "Affairs of state, or... something." He felt lost.

Ishaya smiled kindly at him. "There's no need for you to worry about that tonight, High Lord." His eyes were soft. "Rest assured that all is running as it should within your kingdom. For tonight, at least, you have no responsibilities other than spending time with your friend."

"I'd like to hear about that university in Gyre," Haku said, selecting a grape from the platter and taking a slow bite from it. "What was it like, living over there? Was it horrible?"

"No, it wasn't horrible at all. Gyre is really a wonderful place. Let me tell you about the campus where I was living...." Kaori was glad for the delay in having to face his new reality for that much longer. He felt more relaxed now as he talked about the country he had spent the past three years visiting, the things he'd learned there, the culture, the language, the people. In return, Haku told him about the trials he'd passed in order to become a member of the Palace Guard, and some of the campaigns he'd been on. Kaori was unsettled to realize that his friend had significant battle experience now, and had even killed on occasion, when it had become necessary. That image jarred discordantly with the image of the childhood companion he carried around in his mind's eye. In many ways, this new Haku seemed a stranger to Kaori; the thought made him feel sad. But time moved on, and people changed. That was the way of the world.

At length, he began to feel quite sleepy. He realized with some surprise that he had eaten more than he thought he'd be able to.

"Your room has been prepared," Ishaya said, drawing his attention, "if you'd like to retire for the night."

Kaori caught himself in the middle of another yawn and ducked his head embarrassedly. He really was very tired. The thought of going to sleep as if nothing untoward had happened disturbed him, but at the same time he wanted it desperately, wanted the dark and the temporary oblivion it offered.

"Yes," he said, sighing. "I think I'd better." He smiled, feeling very much aware of his friends sitting around him like a balustrade, like armor, sitting with him so he wouldn't have to be alone on this night of all nights. "Thank you."

He got up to walk out of the room, but stopped before he reached the doorway. Turning around, he met Haku's eyes and asked, "Did my father suffer at all?"

Haku hesitated before replying. "It wasn't easy for him," he said at last. "But what is, in this life?"

Ishaya leaned forward in agitation. "Haku!" he said sharply, with a disapproving frown. "There was no reason for him to know--"

Haku shrugged, unimpressed by the other man's ire. "We shouldn't get into the habit of lying to him. Life is hard, and it's only going to get harder." He glanced in Kaori's direction, his gaze contemplative. "Especially for him."

The words sent a wave of coldness washing through Kaori, but he nodded agreeably enough. "Thank you, Haku." Feeling numb, he left the room.

He'd taken nearly five full steps before he realized that Hunter had fallen in beside him. Glancing at the man irritably, he said, "You'd better get some sleep, too."

"Of course." Hunter's tone was nonchalant. It occurred to Kaori that he'd never once seen the other man sleep. He just always seemed to be there, watching over him.

"Seriously, Hunter." That thought worried him, for some reason. "I don't think you have to worry about anyone trying to assassinate me here in the palace tonight."

"No," Hunter said agreeably. "You should be safe enough here."

"So get some rest. Please."

Hunter's eyes were extraordinarily dark when they looked at him. For the first time, Kaori wondered if he was mourning Akashi's passing, too. Had the two of them been close at all? They must have been, for Akashi to have assigned Hunter the task of protecting his only heir.

"I will," Hunter said after a moment's pause. "Promise me you'll get some sleep as well. Don't just lie awake, worrying."

It had been nearly three years since Kaori had last slept in a room alone. Having a roommate had been troublesome for him at first, but he'd swiftly grown accustomed to the sound of another breath in the darkness next to his own. All of a sudden, he missed Ben so poignantly it brought a physical ache to his chest.

"Yes," he said, wondering if he sounded half as insincere as he felt. "I promise."

They walked in silence the rest of the way to Kaori's room. At this hour, there was no one else out and about in the corridors. The emptiness of the palace was unsettling, as if it were inhabited by nothing more than ghosts, or memories. Kaori wasn't sure which of the two would be worse.

He paused outside the door to his bedroom when he reached it, staring hard at the elaborate whorls etched into the polished wood. At his side Hunter waited patiently, as if sensing that he needed to find the courage to speak.

"Everything's changed," he said at last. There was no one else he could have made such an admission to, not even Haku. "And I don't think... I don't think I can be what they need from me."

"Nonsense." Hunter's tone was kind. "You've spent the past two years -- nearly three -- studying politics and economic stratagems. You're already more educated than your father ever hoped of being."

"My father was a great warrior."

"It takes more than war to rule a country."

"I'm too young. The lords of the Council are going to laugh at me if I try to tell them what to do."

"I assure you they won't."

"They'll be right to. I don't know anything. I mean, I do, but it's all book knowledge. I don't know anything about their fears, about the issues they're facing."

"You'll learn. The important thing to remember is that you aren't alone. We're all here for you, and we're rooting for you. We'll help you all that we can."

Hunter. Haku. Ishaya. Kaori smiled slightly at that reminder. "I'm probably going to fall on my ass."

The corner of Hunter's mouth curled upward. "If you do, you'll pick yourself up again. You'll make mistakes, you'll learn from them, and life will go on. Your father made more than his fair share of them."

That made Kaori raise his head, surprise widening his eyes. The thought that his father might have been fallible rocked the foundations of his world.

After a moment, he asked, "Do you miss him?"

For a moment, it didn't look as if Hunter was going to answer. Then he turned away with a small sigh, so soft Kaori almost couldn't hear it.

"I think you have the potential to be a far greater ruler than your father ever had a hope of being," he said, without looking at Kaori's eyes. "I think people are going to assume, at first, that you might be just like him... and that they'll be pleasantly surprised when they find out you're not."

Kaori turned those last statements over in his head and tried to determine if, taken as a whole, they amounted to a compliment for him, or for his father. He decided he was too tired to come to a coherent conclusion and that he'd do best to just let it go for now.

He slid the fingers of one hand over the surface of his door, feeling the familiar warmth of it slide in through his skin. "Promise me," he said, staring down at his hand. "Promise me... you aren't going to change. Promise me you'll never treat me any differently because of... of what I am."

Hunter turned to look at him then, surprise at the words tightening the skin between his brows. A moment later, his expression softened. "Is that an order, High Lord?"

Kaori frowned. "No. It's not. It's only a request."

Hunter nodded seriously. "Then unfortunately, I'm going to have to decline. I can't promise never to change. I don't know anyone who could do that." When Kaori opened his mouth to speak, he said, "But I will promise always to treat you as I have in the past."

"Like an obsessive mother hen, you mean," Kaori said, subsiding with a grin.

"If you'd like to think of it that way." Hunter's eyes sparkled. "But seriously, Kaori. You don't have anything to worry about. No matter what happens, I'll always be by your side."

It was ridiculous, how much comfort that promise gave him. Kaori was struck by the sudden urge to ask the other man to go into his bedroom with him, just so he wouldn't have to sleep alone.

Flustered, he turned back toward his door. "Go get some sleep, then. You promised."

"I did." Hunter lifted a hand and ruffled Kaori's hair, his palm settling in a warm, heavy weight on the top of his scalp. "You go to sleep, too."

Kaori repressed a shiver. "I told you I would." He pushed open the door and stepped into his room, feeling strangely bereft when the other man's hand fell away from his hair.

He didn't look back when he closed the door.

Author Bio:

J.A. Jaken has been writing homoerotic fiction for more than ten years. She got her start in the profession writing slash fanfiction, where she has published numerous stories under the pen-name Rushlight. Over the years she has written erotic short stories and novels in genres ranging from science fiction/fantasy to gothic horror to modern detective mysteries. Outside of writing, her interests include studying foreign languages, practicing martial arts, riding horses, and collecting medieval weaponry.

website: http://www.jajaken.com/
email: jajaken@jajaken.com
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jajakenfiction
twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/jajakenfiction
goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/JAJaken

*~*~*

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Songs of the Earth Release Day!!

Whoot! Today is the re-release day for Songs of the Earth. I love that this series found such a great home with Less Than Three Press.

Songs of the Earth is the second book in the Sumeria's Sons series. For those who have read the first edition, no content was changed. We did typical editing and buffing.

The blog tour won't begin until later this month. I'll post notices here on the blog as well as on Facebook, twitter, GoodReads, and Google+.

Thank you guys for reading. {{hugs}}

Blurb:

Thrust into the role of Prince of the Lycans, Tristan strives to find his footing in a life suddenly rife with secrets and lies—and danger. Betrayed by a Goddess meant to safeguard him, desperate to protect his consort and their growing tribe, he can only prepare for the worst and struggle to hope.

And then the worst comes to kill them...


Buy Links: Amazon | Less Than Three Press | All Romance (ARe) | Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

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

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. Socks and I couldn’t outrun these Sumerian creatures of myth. But they were the least of my problems. What held my full attention was the woman standing before me on the water’s edge.

The Goddess Ki, clothed in a long, flowing gauzy dress, wearing a crown of ram’s horns, with a bow and quiver of arrows over her left shoulder and a cudgel hanging from her waist. She held a lion cub’s leash while regarding me with a stern, assessing gaze.

“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 continued to breathe—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.”

From across the water, Ki smiled a very white smile. “Come to me, Tristan. We have much to discuss,” she commanded.

I nudged Socks with my knees and she reluctantly finished crossing the stream, nervously tossing her head and 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 hair. Not a half hour ago, I had left the ranch to go for a ride. The morning had offered many revelations with an accumulation of events that changed the course of my life.

After breaking the bond with my Twin Flame, Theo Sullivan, I hadn’t expected to find happiness or to fall in love with my best friend, but I had. Last night we made love, 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 begin to grasp what that even meant, Caspian MacCuill—one of the Magi—and a group of Lycan warriors invaded my home and attempted to kidnap Ushna and blackmail our friend, Gregori Borchetta, which led to Ushna being shot while trying to protect me.

All I had wanted was an hour. One single, measly hour to gather my thoughts and figure out what the hell we needed to do next. Instead, I sat trapped with no way to escape. The only course of action left to me was to save as many lives as possible. No mortal defied a Goddess and lived. If only I knew what I’d done to draw her attention.

Reluctantly, I straightened, petting Socks’s velvety nose before I removed her bridle. Giving her a smack on the rump, I sent her away. With luck, she’d return home safely and not be eaten.

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 turned to Ki and waited. It couldn’t be taken as good fortune that she was here now.

“Why 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 stared with almond-shaped black eyes.

One Shirdal lay at her feet, allowing Ki to scratch the feathers between its ears. The picture presented seemed surreal, two things that shouldn’t exist in this modern world of skyscrapers, automobiles, space shuttles, and nuclear bombs. Yes, I kept an altar in my room where I left burnt offerings to the Warrior Goddess Anat and Shamash, God of Justice. Believing in the Gods and Goddesses didn’t mean one would manifest into my world and actually speak to me.

“I don’t wish to offend, Goddess. It’s… well… this has been a very unusual day. Right now, I’m assuming the worst because I cannot fathom why you are here—speaking to me.”

She gave me another toothy smile and glanced across the water to the Lupes harassing the other Shirdal. “Please call your warriors to you, Tristan. The Shirdals meant you no harm. They were only playing.”

I barely withheld an ugly snort. Playing with me? I could imagine them playing as they tossed me about with their sharp beaks. Without a word, I lifted a hand to the Lupes and they entered the water, intent upon me as they crossed in a straight line.

Winner Announcement and Release Day Excerpt!

Woot!! Surrounded by Crimson, book #4 of Sumeria's Sons is out! It has been amazing to watch this book rise on the pre-sale list to the #2 slot. I'm humbled and so grateful. Thank you guys!!

First off, I need to announce the winner of this week's giveaway.  Thank you for reading and participating!!

So had 5 e-books to give away and the winners are:  Teresa Blomander, Maame Adwoa, Fiona Bernard. Congratulations!! (I just noticed that I don't have an email link. So...) Email me at lexi.ander.author@gmail.com for your prize!!

So I promised a little something extra for excerpts today. The publisher has one up that starts at the beginning but I thought I'd share something tantalizing from the middle. Hold onto your hats!



Blurb: Tristan has agreed to bond with Ushna but there is still much to do. Returning to Tribe Enkidu puts everyone on edge and Tristan is being stalked like prey. It doesn't help that he fights depression as he mourns the loss of Nikita, or that claiming his birthright becomes a battle of wills with the Elder Council, and the pleading of his adoptive daughter adds to the oppressive feeling. Stumbling onto a secret prison while searching for Ushna leads Tristan to risk everything to free a lost God. But breaking the tie to his Flame has more repercussions than Tristan knew and the assistance of a forgotten Goddess and a centuries old lover may not be enough to save him.

Excerpt:

"Xenres," Thomas said stepping close. "I know what you're thinking. Your consort has possibly been kidnapped by your enemy and seemingly held hostage somewhere down that tunnel. But we need to wait for Captain Ybarra to bring reinforcements. He'll be able to confirm if your consort is missing."

Again, we all tried to contact someone, anyone, at Nathan's estate. We were all frustrated when the calls went unanswered. I didn't disagree with Thomas. There were too many easy ways to plant a false scent trail and not enough evidence to chance a rescue with our current numbers. I had five warriors and I was slow, fat, and pregnant. I would hinder my men's movements, and their concern would be to keep me safe above all. Even if I superseded Juan's orders and sent two scouts down the tunnel, I would be left with three guards, and no way to escape if we were attacked.

Waiting for Juan to come back with reinforcements was the logical choice. Fifteen minutes to the house. Ten to fifteen minutes to gather a force and another fifteen minutes to get back. Juan had already been gone ten to fifteen minutes. We only had a little longer to wait for his return. The next draft brought the smell of blood mingled with Ushna's scent.

No.

All logical thought left and I knew I couldn't wait, not if Daniel had hurt Ushna. There wasn't anything on this world that could make me stand out here when there was a strong possibility Ushna was being tortured. By the expressions from the warriors, they knew this as well.

With numb fingers, I tried one more time to call Ushna, only to be thrown into voicemail. I left a scathing message full of fake threats if Ushna didn't return my call immediately. I dialed Juan, he picked up, but loud static cancelled out any other sound. I cussed loud and long, not caring who heard me.

Russ pulled one of the two swords he carried from his belt. "You realize we're probably walking into a trap?" He handed over a blade. "I don't have a spare firearm."

I took the offered hilt, testing the balance before giving him a firm nod. "I know but I can't take the chance." I stared at his dark eyes, letting him see my resolve. I ordered one man to wait for Juan's return and report our plan to search for Ushna.

We approached the shed cautiously; the smell of blood grew stronger the closer we came to the entrance. The scent hadn't been there when we first arrived, which meant it was fresh. Thomas descended the stairs first and we waited at the top for the all-clear. The cool air rose up from the stairway as we waited for the warrior to return. He stepped into our view. "The tunnel is pitch-black, but there appears to be a lighted room twenty to thirty feet toward the end."

With two warriors in front of me and two behind, we descended the slick stone stairs into absolute dark. The air was moist and cool. The granite under my hand was smooth to the touch and wet with condensation. My heart pounded. That Ushna's scent was stronger here, with the smell of blood overlaying it, worried me. I picked up other odors. An older, stale smell with mold along with various animal traces underlying everything else.

Carefully, with a hand following the wall, we followed the passageway toward a sliver of light at the far end of the tunnel. We shuffled as quietly as we could, unsure of the state of the ground under foot. Our breathing seemed loud in the enclosed space, and I worried it would mask any noise made by someone sneaking up on us.

HAPPY READING!! I hope enjoy Surrounded by Crimson, the fourth book in the Sumeria's Sons series. 

Cheers!!

Sumeria's Magi, Starting Fires, Part Five of Five

Day 1: count down to book four in the Sumeria's Sons series. Surrounded By Crimson will be release on TOMORROW Saturday, May 18th. Today is the last day to enter the giveaway!! 

I hope you enjoy the conclusion to Starting Fires. It was such fun to write this story for the guys. Now another one is swirling around in my thoughts.  All the what ifs that can happen from here.  Enjoy!!

Starting Fires (Sumeria's Sons #3.1, Sumeria's Magi #0.2)
© 2013, Lexi Ander

Part Five

~Gregori~

It had been a couple of days since I'd left Juan's quarters in the pre-dawn hour exhausted but sated. We hadn't made love—yet—but spent the night learning each other's bodies. His scent on my skin still lingered, strong and heady. He'd been pretty happy with himself over the fact others would discern our mutual possession and I encouraged him. If he was distracted by the evidence of his physical and emotion ownership of me, then he wouldn't pay attention the unease I had difficulty suppressing. Magi took bindings very seriously. If it became known I'd linked Juan to me by accident. The consequences would be high even though Juan had been.

Magi formed bonds to create circles of power, usually for protection from those more powerful. The practice hadn't been used in times of war and not wide spread, until recently. Kevah Kortdad's leadership of the College instilled within the Magi a degree of distrust among the members. What I hadn't yet explained to Juan, I couldn't form a circle of just two people. Rules of magic were applied in threes. The smallest circle could be was three, the largest recorded had been twenty-one.

Soon I'd need to take on another or more to close the circle. A Magi would detect the gap and I'd be vulnerable to attack without the benefit of being able to defend myself. I didn't believe Juan would be up for sharing. I hoped he wouldn't have to--if I could come up with a solution.  There was so much my warrior didn't know. What would he do when he found out what I'd inadvertently made him a part of? Would he continue to be happy with me? The binding was fragile right now. If we avoided contact then the link would dissolve over time but again, Juan would pursue me if I tried to put distance between us without an explanation.

Honestly, I didn't want to let him go. I felt strongly for him and the degree to which I needed him scared me. When I'd crossed the yard to the main house, I wanted to turn around and climb back into Juan's bed.

What other options did I have? Explain to Juan what I'd need to do and weather the storm. If he couldn't abide by the rules of magic I'd have to release him. I'd need to leave until the bond completely dissolved. Surely there had to be another place from which I'd be able to serve Tristan. The ironic part? I'd been concerned about the Triad's retaliation since the attempted kidnapping, and I'd contemplated leaving the ranch for some time. Now, when the possibility arose that I might have to go, my very being rebelled, and I searched for a way to stay. But if Juan didn't completely accept the world which I lived, then I'd have no choice.

Fucking hell. I was getting ahead of myself. As far as I could tell, the Magi who'd arrived seeking asylum in Tristan's tribe weren't a part of those who favored Kevah's policies. Many of the faces had been familiar, young Magi who at one time I'd attempted to help, shield, and encouraged when I had attending the College. Maybe with a new College, different rules could be drawn up so we wouldn't live in fear of Lycans like Kevah.

Hunched over the work bench, I tested the cooling metal of the medallion. Perfect. I went to work with a chisel and rubber hammer, carefully carving as I chanted. I gather the magic to me as I spoke to the metal. A soft tune echoed in the garage, telling me it was time. I poured the spell into that which had been formed by the rhythmic pounding. I followed the words with a push of emotion, giving the feelings I had for Juan a home. I desired a way to protect him when I wasn't with him. It had been difficult to watch him transform and pursue the rogue Magi while my presence was required to stay and safeguard Tristan. Not that I'd ever leave my king unprotected. I merely wanted my lover and hopefully my future Bond Brother to be guarded as well.

I didn't know how long I worked on my gift to Juan. Dealing with the Magi and then Tristan and Stan, I'd missed my dinner with Juan. Disappointed, I retreated to the garage, my workshop in disguise, determined to finish the medallion. Creating an item of magic took considerable time and effort. Forging both the chain and amulet had taken much longer than Tristan's ring.

When I final sat back on my stool, my back screamed in agony but the present was perfect. The links of the platinum chain were solid and not too heavy. The medallion had more detail than I'd anticipated but that was part of the process. The energy didn't always decipher the information I relayed in a similar way. The magic pulled something of Juan through our link to add to the weave of the spell.

The sound of a shoe scuff alerted me to the unexpected visitor before I caught his scent in the air. I turned on my stool to greet Stan. The wave of vertigo that waylaid me almost unseated me. I had to have been working longer than I'd thought.

Stan rushed to catch me and I held out a halting hand. The bond with Juan may've been light but already the thought of another touching me added a rolling stomach to the dizziness. Luckily, Stan didn't insist.

"I hadn't meant to startle you. We've been taking turns checking on you." He put a respectable distance between us, which I appreciated.

I gripped the work bench as I struggled with a wave of exhaustion. The lightheadedness receded. All were signs of a Magi too long at work.

"How long have I been in here?"

“The Magi arrived three days ago. You came here after the meeting with Justus's attacker’s and haven't left since. It's six o'clock the evening of the third day.” Stan warily eyed the stone golem standing in repose.

Well, it could've been worse. Seventy some odd hours wasn't the longest time I'd spent working, but this session had been more intense.

"What are you making?"

Stan was being—calm—reasonable. I studied the warrior noting once again how maturity—only the physical because the emotional was still in question—had developed him into an attractive man. Wavy dark hair covered his ears but didn't brush his collar with thick brows over large dark brown eyes. He hadn't shaved in a couple of days and the growth came in lighter than his hair. Bronze skin gave the male an air of health and vitality. Stan wasn't as large or as tall as Ushna but he came close.

"The rings confiscated form Daniel's apartment and the demonstration given by Kent gave me an idea," I finally replied.

An organized group of assassins had been discovered within Tristan's growing tribe. We had been aware of their existence but not their purpose. It was either luck or fate they were unaware they hadn't murdered all of the royal line. It afforded us time to study our enemy. One of their secrets was the mysterious rings.

Stan leaned into one of the benches that ran along the garage wall, attempting to give off an air of casual indifference. Little did he know, he faced the man who had mastered the art of nonchalance. He didn't fool me. He wanted to talk and would use any excuse to keep me from kicking him out.

"The magic of the Kent's ring isn't Lycan but we can learn from them. I took a few of the principles I discovered so far and applied them to the medallion I'd been working on." I began clearing my work station, placing the necklace into a velvet lined box.

"That's for him?" Stan quickly forged on without waiting for my answer. "Is this because of what I did the other day?"

"Truth? In part. If I hadn't been there, you would've killed him." Stan blanched, but didn't deny my assessment. "If Juan will have me, I plan on spending the rest of my life with him."

Stan held my gaze, searching for something. "I didn't realize he meant that much to you. He's no more than an average warrior, he's definitely not strong enough to provide you with the protection you need. He's an uneducated loner with little to no social skills. He's the one who'd benefit from being your mate and all he'll do is drag you down. Mark my words."

Shuffling his feet, Stan placed his fist on his hips. "Look. I hear what the Magi are whispering amongst themselves. As their Sami, you're next in line to lead them, which means your triad needs to be comprised of the best and the strongest. You cannot attach yourself to someone inferior to you."

In my anger, I almost gave away the fact Juan and I were on our way to becoming Bond Brothers. The image on the completed medallion had assuaged my fears and renewed my optimism. Stan made too many assumptions and I was furious. He knew little of how a triad worked or what the purpose of one should be.

"Are you saying you would be stronger, better than Juan if I let you in my circle?" My voice didn't betray my growing ire. I sounded thoughtful and not like a man whose link to Juan had just been threatened by an external opponent.

Beware of the Magi who were driven to protect their Bond Brothers.

As foolish as Stan could be, his casual stance had become wary. "I realize my behavior over the last couple of weeks has been less than exemplary, but yes, I'm a better candidate than Juan Ybarra. My abilities as an alpha alone are valuable to you because I can force obedience from those who'd harm you. My skills as a Warrior of Anat are self-explanatory. I'm perfect for what you need."

I blew out a breath, wrestling with rising emotions. If I couldn't regulate them, I'd cause things in my workshop to combust. There were downsides to being the strongest Magi in an age. Father forced me swear to keep the secret of my true nature. Excess emotion, when not measured and redirected, caused serious irreparable harm. The only good thing my father had accomplished was to teach me how to contain the tide. Stan should consider himself lucky I'd been an excellent student.

"No, you're not. You presume to be knowledgeable of the Magi and yet you'd been trapped and leashed by their magic. I don't know where your false sense of loyalty and protection is coming from but I'm not the one you've betrayed, Stan. Don't use me to assuage your guilt. I won't be your scapegoat because you refuse to face the one person you turned your back on." I stood and shoved the velvet box in my pants pocket.

"For some reason Tristan loves you unconditionally. You need to reassess your priorities, determine what your destiny was supposed to be before you had been pushed off course by the assassins. What I do know, your fate will never rest with me." I pushed the stool under the workbench and locked up the cabinets.

Instead of heading to the door, I stalked toward Stan. Whatever he sensed from me, even though I didn't crowd him, caused him to stumble back until he smacked into golem. "You're not my friend, Stan. My confidence in you is spent. I don't trust you with the people I love. Maybe we'll be friends again down the road but that isn't where we are today. If you continue on this course of action, you'll become my enemy."

Very few people had witnessed the extent of the power I held. I planned to keep it that way but I needed to send Stan a message he wouldn't forget or disregard. The Triad didn't know for sure, although I believed they suspected. I wasn't only born the strongest Magi in five hundred years. No, I was the reason my mother died in child birth because I had been the Brann, born of fire.

Branns, Magi similar to me, were created to herald an age of great battles. The destruction they wrought had become legendary. Whoever guided the Brann controlled the outcome of war. My father, Kassian, beat into me the importance of hiding this secret. I held the knowledge close. The immense destructive power had been the reason I quit fighting as a juvenile and concentrated on healing—the opposite and calming aspect of destruction. I spent my life denying my birthright, terrified of the consequences.

I couldn't afford to be afraid any longer.

Exhaling, I release a tiny portion of what I hid since the revelations of my first transformation at puberty. I didn't sing, chant a spell, or beseech the Earth for magic. No words were spoken to draw the heat rose that from my core. Immediately the temperature in the room jumped several degrees but the area between Stan and I became as hot as an open flame. My hair lifted and swirled gently in the air. I raised my hands before me, cupped palms up. The pale skin turned pearlesque with pastel colors spinning and blending across the surface of my exposed arms.

What I held held captured Stan's wide-eyed attention. Blue fire licked at my skin without burning. He attempted to touch but snatched back blistered fingertips before he came close to the flame. I drew the heat of the flame back into me to keep Stan from being burned further.

"What…"

I caught his dark gaze and held it. "The next time you decide to do me a favor and attempt to harm—murder—Juan, I will obliterate you. When I'm done with you, not even bones will be left. There's nothing you can offer me that I want or need. Do we have an understanding?"

The extreme heat caused sweat to bead on Stan's face. His eyes darted away as he licked dry lips and nodded. I was disappointed I had to threaten him. What we once had was gone forever. It couldn't be duplicated or revived; we were too far past that point. I hoped he'd pull himself together quickly because my threat applied to Tristan's well-being. If I determined Stan was a detriment, I'd safeguard the welfare of my king.

I'd set him free from any imagined obligations to me.

Had I been too hard on him? At the door I glanced back, Stan stood in the middle of the garage staring down at his hands. He seemed sad, definitely lost, and yes, there it was—relief. No, I'd given him what he needed, a slammed door, and a type of closure.

Achy and tired, I strode through the dark kitchen toward my bedroom. The house was quiet. I wondered where everyone had gone but I didn't have the energy to track them down. A shower and soft bed sounded glorious.

The most beautiful sight met me when I entered my quarters. A candle lit table for two had been setup in the middle of the room. Juan walked out of the bathroom using a damp cloth to wipe at a spot on his black trousers.

Gods, he was handsome. Hazel eyes, dark curly hair touched up with something that made his curls shine. He was clean shaven, brown skin smooth, the pink tip of his tongue pressed at his bottom lip as he focused on removing the stain.

He wore a thin V-neck sky-blue sweater, sleeves pulled up to his elbows. Warmth bloomed in my chest as I realized he'd made sure we had our dinner date. He was more in tune with me than I'd thought if he knew I would be finished about this time.

As if he sensed my presence, Juan grinned widely before he gazed directly at me. Stan had been wrong about several things. The biggest one was in regards to Juan Ybarra. The finished surface of the medallion told me something important about my lover. I guessed at the meaning of some of the images but there was one I understood clearly.

Juan was perfect for me because he cherished the flame.

"How are you feeling?" He tossed the cloth in the direction of the bathroom. His gaze traveled over me with concern. "You have to be starving. Sit. Eat. I'll draw you a bath and then we'll go to bed."

Instead of allowing him to lead me to the table, I crushed him to me.

"What's wrong? Do you need a doctor? Do I need to get Nathan?" His arms slipped around me, holding me tight.

"No, I'm just… seeing you."

His gaze searched mine. I distracted him with a kiss that quickly morphed into one of blazing passion. I wasn't as tired as I'd thought. Breaking apart was difficult. I craved his touch, needed to be close to him, and he seemed to understand. Sitting me at the table, he pulled the other chair next to mine. As he reached for the silver dome in front of me, I placed a hand over his to stop him.

"I have gift for you." I dug into my pocket for the velvet box. Juan's lusty grin made me give a startled bark of laughter. "Not that kind of present. Maybe later," I hedged.

My heart thumped hard as he opened the box revealing the hand carved medallion about two and a half inches across.

"Gregori!" he gasped, fingertips tracing the intricate images.

"Once you put it on, none will ever be able to remove the necklace but you."

"Then you must be the one to place it on me." He took the amulet out of its velvet bed and placed the chain and amulet in my upturned palm. "Please."

With trembling hands I slipped the medallion over his head. The fit was perfect even though I hadn't taken measurements. His dark hands engulfed mine, the solid links sliding through our fingers as we settled it against his skin.

"I love you, Juan," I blurted.

I had confidently flashed fire and threats at Stan minutes ago, and here I was a blubbering mess as I attempted to express, for the first time, how I felt to my lover. He didn't leave me hanging. The way he kissed me said dinner would be very cold by the time we got around to eating it.

The End

Note: Make sure to come back tomorrow and see who won the giveaway. You'll also get to see a new excerpt from Surrounded by Crimson. Cheers!!

Sumeria's Magi, Starting Fires, Part Four of Five

Day 2: count down to book four in the Sumeria's Sons series. Surrounded By Crimson will be release on Saturday, May 18th. From today thru Sunday, May 17th, I will post the side stories to the Sumeria's Sons. 

Contest: Monday, May 13th I started running a week long contest/giveaway. More participants means more copies. Leave a comment everyday from the 13th thru the 17th for a chance to win an e-book copy of Surrounded By Crimson. If you comment all five days then you will have five entries in the contest. Winners will be announced on Saturday, May 18th. Good Luck!!

Starting Fires (Sumeria's Sons #3.1, Sumeria's Magi #0.2)
© 2013, Lexi Ander

Part Four

~Juan~


Corey pushed Stan out into the hall, but before he closed the door, he glanced at us, the colored beads on his blond braids clacking softly. "Enjoy your vacation—your five day vacation." He grinned devilishly. "If you come back before then, I'll simply tack on more days."

The door snicked closed quietly behind him and I smirked, no longer apprehensive about how to spend my time off. The room was a disaster. Granted, some of the upheaval had been our fault, a fact that caused the grin to widen and split my face in two. Oh, how I hoped there would be a repeat performance. Gregori helped to right the chairs, returned the photos to their places on the wall, and clean the floor where Stan scattered anything that hadn't been tied down.

"So. Five days, huh? " His mischievous grin had me beaming back coyly.

"Yeah, unless there's an emergency." I gave a dramatic sigh. "That's a lot of time to fill. I'm not sure what I'll do with myself."

Never have I taken such pleasure in flirting with anyone. I loved to watch Gregori grow flustered. Today, though, the Magi played along with more confidence than he'd had exhibited before.

"I can make a list of things you can do." His silvery gaze travelled over my bare torso causing me to suck in my gut. His stare stopped at my groin where my obvious excitement pressed against my zipper and he licked those full lips, before continuing down my long legs to my cowboy boots.

His scrutiny made me feel naked and I glanced down to double check that, yes, I still had a pair of jeans on. Sharp pants sounded loud in the closed room and Gregori had yet to even touch me sexually.

"You don't need to spend all that time—alone." He glanced up and met my stare. His expression revealing a sharp vulnerability, there and gone in the blink of an eye. "Come to supper with me tomorrow night. Not a table in the dining hall, or at the main house with my nosy friends."

"You want me to pick you up and take you into town for a suit and tie dinner?"

He placed a stray book on the table and approached me. "Yes. I think it's time everybody understands you're mine."

I inhaled sharply, running his scent over my tongue. Sweat blended with traces of arousal mixed with his unique pheromones, the effect at times drugged my senses.

"Anyone can tell I'm yours by the way I look at you." I didn't think it would come to a shock to people if we started seeing each other openly.

"Here. Allow me to take care of you."

I held still as Gregori laid his warm hands against my throat, his thumbs brushing over the pulse point. The Magi erotically caressed my skin. A tingling built beneath the tips of Gregori's fingers as they moved over the surface of my body, leading to the sensation of all the pleasure points being stroked simultaneously.

I didn't understand what he was doing to me. My eyelids drooped closed as my head dropped back and I gave in to his sensual ministrations. Without looking, I couldn't discern the touch of his hands from that of the magic. A tingling sensation worked its way up my torn back driving away the pain and increasing the pleasure. My cock pulsed with need and I swayed, overwhelmed by the heightened awareness. I reached out and braced a hand on the wall to keep from toppling over.

"Gods…" I breathed out. He caressed me everywhere and I craved more. A strangled noise pushed up the back of my throat when a palm grasped the base of my shaft.

Intoxicated, I glanced down my body; sure the touch had to be an illusion. Gregori knelt at my feet. The blue jeans pooled around my cowboy boots and my briefs caught on my knees. His palm enfolded the width of my cock, gaze devouring the length as if he held a tempting morsel.

I wanted to express to him how beautiful I thought he was, to recite sonnets of adoration, and show him how I valued his loyalty and courage and sacrifice. To open my lips and reveal he didn't need to hide because I could see him—even that which he hid from everyone else—and regardless of the fire that burned within him, I found him beautiful. To simply express the love I held for him.

All the poetic words I planned to say became lost when Gregori gazed up my body with his liquid-silver gaze and took me into his mouth. His free hand caressed my hip and swirls of intense magic transferred to me as his palm moved up and drew circles over the skin. All the while his wicked tongue did devilish things to my cock.

His gaze held mine as he sealed his lips and slid down the length until he met his fist before swallowing and sucking his way back to the flared rim. Never had I experienced anything resembling the sensations he invoked within me. Gregori mixed saliva, teeth, tongue, and magic to gradually me drive me insane. A part of me wanted to fist his hair and slowly fuck his mouth. Another part believed the exquisite sensations would end if I touched him and I'd wake up to discover this moment had only been a dream. Gods, I'd do everything in my power to stay.

Without warning, I rode the edge of orgasm and I fought back the need to come. I didn't want the connection between us to end. So I pulled out all my tricks to stave off the orgasm. Gregori movements become more concentrated, intense, as if he sensed I held back. The hand on my belly grew heavy, magic rolled across my skin, his single touch turned into a thousand.

Breath caught in my chest as Gregori began to glow. His alabaster skin turned pearlesque and then Gregori—bloomed—that is the only way I could describe what happened to my lover. When the light burst from him and engulfed me, I was shoved over the edge. I screamed his name, pouring my essence down his throat until I thought I'd turn inside out.

His strong arms caught me as I crumpled to the floor. He made shushing noises as I attempted to remember how to breathe again. Memories from the past created a kaleidoscope of pictures from a barely remembered childhood. My mind scrambled with the sudden knowledge that not all of the recollections came from my past. I recognized Gregori's youthful face among a group of boys; still shots from his own memories mixed with mine of the young men as they tumbled and played and grew up together.

"I'm so sorry. So, so sorry," he murmured over and over again. "I lost control of my emotions. I didn't mean for this to happen. Oh, Gods, please forgive me. Stay with me, Juan, come on, I need you to breathe, match the rhythm of my breath."

I gasped raggedly but my lungs rejected the attempts to draw in air. My limbs were heavy as if they had been filled with lead.

"You need to let in the magic," he coaxed.

I didn't know how.

"Gods! Your lips are turning blue." Gregori's warm hand cleared the hair from my eyes. His voice trembled when he said, "Think about me making love to you and the moment as I'd breech you. How there's that little bit of pain at first but then the need for movement grows. You want all of me the inside you but you need to relax your muscles and allow me in. You need to want me… want me to be a part of you." Tears spilled over, painting his cheeks before he buried his face in my neck. "What have I done? Please, please, please don't take him."

Spots danced in my vision mocking me with my inability to open up to the one person I had come to care about. All those years ago, I'd lost my family and closest friends and I believed I'd never be able to love as deeply again. How utterly wrong I'd been. Now, if I didn't discover how to allow Gregori's magic to enter me, I'd die. I refused to leave him just as I'd been abandoned long ago.

Tear-stained kisses lightly flutter over my face and I concentrated on listening to Gregori's breathing, to the rhythmic thump of his heart against my ear. His full lips slid over mine and he breathed his life's breath into me. My lungs immediately expanded to trap his essence.

Imagine, he'd said and so I did.

My eyelids fell closed and I opened my mind to the vision of Gregori leaning over me, his red hair falling to shield our faces as his surged powerfully within me. I needed him deeper, to touch the very core of my body. I arched to meet his thrust, and drew him in further. The gates burst open and the magic flooded into me becoming an unstoppable tidal wave. I didn't struggle or fight but permitted the power to flow over me. Gregori needed me to embrace his energy, and I drew an essential part of him into a place where no one else would ever reside within me.

My body bowed, breaking the kiss as deluge of magic filled me. Awareness blossomed and I gasped. The heels of my boots thumped against the floor and Gregori's voice, frantic and loud, called for help. My thoughts—his emotions?—voices not my own crowded into my head.

I didn't recall passing out, but when I glanced about I laid on the bed, not the floor, with a warm body curled around me. A single candle burning on the table top and the moonlight shining through the sheers softly lit the darkened room.

Gregori's scent covered everything, the bedding, on my clothes, in the air—under my skin—he was everywhere. I reveled in the fact he'd chosen to share himself with me. Not only sex, or his body but he exposed himself to me, even the part that was wholly magic. If I were a betting man, I would say Gregori had never let his guard down that completely…ever. Not even for Stan. I marveled at the priceless gift he'd given me, and at the same time I felt supremely smug.

"This isn't a competition between you and Stan."

I glanced at Gregori who appeared pleasantly sleep tussled but his eyes were bright and awake. Warmth flowed into me and with growing realization I understood the emotion I sensed belonged Gregori.

"I can feel you!" I blurted then immediately flushed with embarrassment. Several momentous things happened today and I sounded like a teenager who'd discovered a new gadget. How poetic.

I cleared my throat. "I meant to say… " and I had nothing. Never had I regretted not seeking a higher education until that moment. Surely then I would've been able to find the words to express myself without sounding like a bumbling idiot.

Gregori expression grew pensive. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen."

"I'm not exactly sure what has happened but I don't believe it's something you should apologize for."

He licked his lips the trepidation clear as day, not that his expression changed but the sensation came from his emotions.

"Earlier when we… ah… I… shit… you know, I gave you the blow job? I healed you first." I nodded with my lips pursed to keep from releasing the laughter. A flustered Gregori was cute.

I grinned. "I've never been healed by a Magi before. That was amazing."

He scowled. "No one else will heal you but me."

Gregori scrubbed a palm over his face, apprehension overwhelmed the spike of jealousy, and turning so thick the sensation was almost physically cloying.

"Normally, healing isn't pleasurable. I blended my emotions with the magic. Something happened and I… it was as if I'd been plugged into you. The magic began to give me feedback. I should've stopped but I wanted to give you something of me. So you'd understand… and I went too far. I've never given anyone… you were so open… you..."

He sat up and growled. The blanket pooled at his waist revealing a lightly muscled torso. But it was his haunted gaze that held my attention. "I'm not explaining this correctly. I'm so sorry. You're partially bound to me. When I realized what was happening, I tried to stop and pull the magic back but I was already too late.

I rose and drew him into my arms, needing to comfort him. "That's the reason I can sense your emotions?" Gregori's forehead nestled into the crook of my neck. He nodded. "And this happened because you wanted to share something of yourself with me and when you sensed what I felt for you, you lost control? And now you're sort of tied to me?"

"Yes," he whispered, sounding completely dejected.

"Oh." It wasn't the most brilliant reply but I doubted Gregori would appreciate a victory whoop at the moment. He worried I wouldn't be receptive to being tied to him and I understood his point of view. I wasn't sure what to say that would console him because, dammit, I was fucking ecstatic with a huge dose of pleased-with-myself.

"Are you disturbed because you now have this link to me?" I asked.

"I…" He started and then paused. Leaning back he gazed at me with his mouth open and his brow creating a deep V over the bridge of his nose. "You're happy," he accused.

If he sensed me the same as I did him then there was no reason to deny his statement.

"You could've died. My lack of control could've scrambled your mind and you're so overjoyed you should be dancing. What the hell?"

I was never accused of being a poet but now I had the ability to explain in a different way. Eyes closed, I ignored Gregori's swirling emotions and concentrated, thinking back to the moment when he'd taken me into his mouth. The sensations, the sight of him as I'd glanced down my body, I pulled the memory to the surface along with the passion I'd experienced. I followed my instincts and sent all of it to Gregori.

He inhaled sharply and when I opened my eyes, he greeted me with an amazed expression. "Even after everything you… I started a binding without your permission."

I drew my legs under me to kneel naked before Gregori. Palms placed along his neck, I rubbed my thumbs from his stubbled jaw to his high cheek bones. His expression continued to be a mixture of amazement and hope. His excitement was complex but I sensed fear underneath it all.

"I'm not a fickle man. I've experienced my share of love and loss. I don't own much, an old dusty house and what you see here. I'm not, nor have I ever been, promiscuous. I've always desired meaningful connections with people I've dated so there haven't been many. I didn't anticipate I'd ever experience deep affection before I passed. I'm beyond happy to be wrong. I think I began to love you from the moment I saw you, proud, defiant, and unafraid in the face of overwhelming odds. Spending time with you only confirmed what I'd recognized all along."

Gregori trembled and I tugged him closer until our mouths were but a breath apart. "I want to spend every night making love to you. Wake every morning with your body pressed against mine. Devote the rest of my life getting to know you and discovering ways to express my love for you. You're apprehensive because you didn't ask permission? I consented before you gave me our first kiss."

"Juan..." Gregori breathed my name, low and tormented.

His soft pliant lips opened and allowed me in. I knew his concerns of the Triad. We'd spoken of them before and yet he'd stayed. Somehow, I'd find a way to become an asset to him, for I had no doubts. What was left of the Triad would either attempt to kill or kidnap Gregori. I planned to be the huge wrench thrown into their plans.

Tonight, though, I'd work to convince him of my love.

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR THE CONCLUSION OF STARTING FIRES!!

Sumeria's Magi, Starting Fires, Part Three of Five

Day 3: count down to book four in the Sumeria's Sons series. Surrounded By Crimson will be release on Saturday, May 18th. From today thru Sunday, May 17th, I will post the side stories to the Sumeria's Sons. 

Contest: Monday, May 13th I started running a week long contest/giveaway. More participants means more copies. Leave a comment everyday from the 13th thru the 17th for a chance to win an e-book copy of Surrounded By Crimson. If you comment all five days then you will have five entries in the contest. Winners will be announced on Saturday, May 18th. Good Luck!!

Starting Fires (Sumeria's Sons #3.1, Sumeria's Magi #0.2)
© 2013, Lexi Ander

Part Three

~Juan~

Gregori snarled—what a fucking turn-on—and used his incisors to nick the cloth before he yanked causing the sweet sound of tearing fabric. Impatient, I dove down and sucked in a pink nipple. The flesh pebbled perfectly as I licked and nibbled as I lavished attention on one then the other. He arched into me, holding my head in place while his erection pushed at my belly, silently begging for more. My mouth watered at the thought of all the things I wanted to do to him.

Hands suddenly free, I scrabbled at his heavy belt then the button underneath. I peeled back the denim and the tip of his cock boldly peeked out of the barely-there briefs. Clear fluid stained the jeans and painted Gregori's skin. Harsh bellowing breaths drew my gaze up his stunning form to a silvery stare. Eyes riveted on my progress, Gregori's chest heaved with each inhalation. I lapped at the head of his dick, catching the tang of his essence on my tongue. Oh, Gods, the taste…

One hand delved into Gregori's pants to grasp the hard shaft as the other pulled at the underwear and jeans, tugging them off so I could see him—all of him. I licked down the column and buried my nose in the short fiery pubic hair. I'd been dreaming about loving him this way. The reality—I wouldn't come away unchanged.

A groan escaped as I inhaled. I loved his scent.

"Juan…"

Gregori's head fell back when I took his cock in my mouth, tongue swirling as I slid down the solid length until my lips came to rest against my fist. Glancing up, I met Gregori's silver-gray gaze. He'd levered on to his elbows, softly panting as his watchful eyes took in every move I made.

Hand and mouth working in tandem, I pulled out every trick I knew to make this moment unforgettable. My tongue delved into the slit, teasing the rim of the sensitive head, lapping at then sucking on his balls, to tapping his cock against the flat of my tongue. By listening to the sweet sounds he made, everything I did drove him wild.

His keening escalated as I worked vigorously until I swallowed the long hard length of him down the back of my throat. I reveled in his taste and didn't catch the signs of Gregori's impending climax until a hand fisted in my hair and tugged. His balls had pulled up tight against his body, and Gregori made nonsensical sounds as he tried to pull out of my mouth. I refused to give up my prize. I wanted to see him come, to be pushed to the brink, and then to fall over. I wanted him to trust me to catch him.

Gregori's groans climbed to a full out scream as he came, flooding my senses with his rich and tangy flavor. I swallowed greedily, making him a part of me in a small way that soothed my wolf.

I lapped and cleaned his softening shaft until no trace of his essence was left behind. Gregori breathed as if he'd run a marathon, sweat lightly coating his skin. I laid my head on his thigh, placing a kiss against the quivering muscle under my cheek. It thrilled me that I'd made his body tremble.

"Juan." Gregori's voice cracked. I glanced up, sure my expression revealed the emotions I harbored for him.

The door to my quarters exploded open with a thundering roar. I lunged to cover Gregori, frantic to get him safety. Something thick and sharp raked and tore across the muscles of my back from the top of my shoulders down to the waistband of my jeans. I roared through the blinding pain and then I kicked back once, twice, three times nailing the person in the torso. The action delayed another attack while Gregori slid off the bed on the opposite side. By no means was he protected but at least he was further from the intruder's reach.

The last back kick had sent the attacker staggering backward enough to allow me to roll away. Tumbling off the foot of the bed, I had my first glimpse of the intruder. Stan towered over me snarling, face twisted in fury before he pounced. Thick strong fingers encircled my throat, squeezing to cut off the airflow. His power, inherent in all alphas, crawled across, demanding my submission. Normally I would've given deference to any alpha, even Stan. The expression on his face told me that if I complied, he'd choke the life out of me.

I fought.

Bucking, kicking, gouging, and punching, I used all my strength to dislodge him but his larger body quickly covered mine, pinning me to the floor under his considerable weight. Spots swan in my sight and my lungs burned form the lack of oxygen.

"Stop!"

Gregori leaped on Stan, beating ineffectually on the warrior's back as he yelled for help. One of Stan's hands released my throat to reach behind him. He grabbed Gregori by the hair and tossed the Magi over his shoulder.

I gulped several breaths of air which helped to revitalize me and I punched Stan in the face and shoulders. A solid fist to the temple threatened to knock me unconscious. As my vision went gray he clamped both hands around my neck again.

I would die. My muscles were heavy and oxygen starved. The fight in me was gone, wrapped up in a cloudy haze. I clawed at the unyielding fingers and stared into Stan's determined expression.

"I said stop!"

A wave of energy rolled over my skin and seemed to latch on to and throw Stan across the room. Coughing, I gasped for breath, attempting to rise to my feet. Wheezing I began to choke and retch.

Pale arms slid around me. "I've got you, Juan, let me see you. Come on."

Gregori sat between me and the maniac. The male wasn't in his right mind and could accidentally injure the Magi.

"Move," I croaked, the single word almost unrecognizable. "He'll be back."

I shoved him but my muscles had turned liquid and Gregori became a brick wall. He, on the other hand, manhandled me as if I were no stronger than a cub.

"He's not going to do shit," Gregori snarled. He rolled me on to my back and I arched off the floor giving a startled yelp.

He grasped my chin and tilted my chin up to study my throat. Gregori whistled angrily through his teeth when his fingers came away wet with blood. Above me a dome of swirling blue lights the size of fireflies shielded us as Stan pummeled his fist against the barrier and shouted. It was strange that no sound passed through the solid defense leaving Gregori and I in a cocoon of absolute quiet.

"Let me see your back," he demanded, his expression hard and full of fury.

I complied and rolled over, still coughing but not as much as before. Stan followed me, without the protection his foot would've connected to my face. I had never seen a Lycan so enraged and yet refrain from turning Lupe.

"I can't heal you and maintain the shield."

I grunted as I sat up. "I'm fine," I croaked.

His gray eyes narrowed but he didn't reply. Stan circled our small bubble. I wasn't sure what Stan searched for. I noticed that if I stared too long at him, his agitation increased.

"I know he's your friend but Stan's a jealous asshole."

I had no idea how we would get out of the situation short of Stan giving up and leaving. I highly doubted that would happen. I didn't have enough strength to overpower him, even if I hadn't been injured. I didn't want Gregori to use more extreme force against his friend. Eventually someone would hear the commotion and come to investigate, or so I hoped.

Gregori sighed. Not once did he glance at Stan. "Warriors are different than civilians. All Lycans feel compelled to submit to an alpha because they're more dominant, the leaders, but none are stronger or even as strong as Tristan. He's first among alphas and the only one who is able to force a warrior's submission. Others less dominant males are tribe leaders and they can demand obedience from the general Lycan population, but on a smaller scale." Gregori ran his fingers over my bruised throat.

"How that's accomplished is with a type of intrinsic magic. Stan's had been bound and stunted by the enchantment Tristan removed. He hasn't had the opportunity to grow into his dominance. He's a strong alpha, stronger than he'd been when he was seventeen. Now his system is swamped in an overload of excessive power. He doesn’t have the knowhow to process or effectively control the energy. It'll drive him a little crazy until he learns to regulate it or until he naturally balances out."

Stan circled them more slowly. I hoped that meant he was wearing out.

"I'm sorry," Gregory blurted.

I glanced back to him. "You've nothing to apologize for…"

Arms Master, Corey Bahar, burst into the room, followed by two captains. Stan attacked one of them, taking the man easily to the floor. Corey released a pulse of energy so strong it rippled against Gregori's shield. The disruption distracted Stan long enough for Corey to subdue him with a choke hold, pulling the crazed warrior off the unfortunate captain.

Stan's expression was a mask of uncontrollable rage. The warriors moved out of range of the male's wildly kicking. Gregori released the shield and the noise crashed down on us. The captains called for Stan to calm down. Stan's thick soled boots struck the floor with heavy thuds amid growls and grunts.

The Arms Master was a study of concentration. I'd always thought Corey hid the true extent of his alpha strength, somehow able to shield it from us. Never before had I experienced Corey's full potential, only hints of it here and there. The demonstration of power had warned Stan he was in the presence of a much stronger alpha. Even now the power rolled off Corey in thick waves causing my wolf to whimper and me to consider kneeling in submission. The only reason I didn't, the energy wasn't directed at anyone other than Stan.

The warrior's fury wound down and lucidity returned to his expression. Gregori used my body to shield him while he pulled on his jeans. The moment when Stan became aware of his actions, his gaze snapped up to my neck, the expression of horror plain to see. The man went utterly limp in Corey's arms and he offered up his neck in a show of submission. Corey continued to hold Stan securely, his eyes meeting mine for the first time. The Arms Master's stare lingered on my bruised throat. His eyes narrowed and expression hardened.

"Where else are you injured?" he demanded.

I don't know why I felt the need to protect Stan. I had no love for him. If what Gregori said was correct, and the warrior's magic was the driving force behind his aggressive actions, the fact still remained he'd attempted to kill me. And yet, I considered not presenting my Arms Master the full extent of my injuries. Gregori who prodded me to turn around, his countenance was unforgiving as he gazed past me to Stan.

"I'll heal Juan," Gregori reassured Corey.

"Gregori, I…"

I glanced over my shoulder. Corey had released Stan. The male remained on his knees, great regret reflected in his expression.

"If all parties agree,"—Corey's gaze rested on each of us—"I'll withhold this incident from Prince Tristan. He doesn't need the added stress in his condition." Corey finally met Stan's eyes. "But if you continue to harass the men under my command, I don't give a rat's ass what your circumstances are, or who you're friends with. I'll formally challenge you, and after I wipe the mat with you, I'll throw you into the detention center for insubordination. I won't put up with you anymore. While you reside on this ranch you report to me."

Stan nodded his head but his gazed stayed riveted to Gregori. The Magi's hand ran long my back and came away red. He stared down at his fingers covered in scarlet and something shifted in his expression.

"Next time," Gregori's voice broke. I grasped his hand as he cleared his throat. When he spoke again, the tone was hard and unyielding. "If there's a next time, I'll be forced to fight back. Don't make me choose, Stan."


SEE YOU TOMORROW!!