37
(Muranaday)
Towani - Greenhouses
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Vanti worked tirelessly in the greenhouses. She hadn’t seen Samek for the solstice making her quarters feel very empty. Work seemed to soothe her heart when nothing else worked.
“Where’s my woman?!” came the call.
“I’m here,” she replied. Samek didn’t sound right. Vanti tensed automatically.
He reached her and took her in his arms in a deep kiss. She didn’t fight him, but he tasted strange too. “What have you had?” she asked softly.
“Nothing,” he answered. “None of your business, anyway.”
“You just tasted a little strange, that’s all,” Vanti said.
“It’s my business, not yours,” Samek repeated.
“Okay,” Vanti shrugged.
“Why won’t you trust me? Why won’t you love me?” he asked, throwing a little leya burst at her.
“You are hurting me, Samek!” she cried after the second one, ready to block the next.
“I thought Cyanus was training you to defend better!” he said throwing a third, which was repulsed. “Better! Come on, give me another!”
“Flypp it!” she swore as she defended herself again.
Another presence came into the greenhouse, Vanti could feel. She worried that Janika might become another target.
While she was distracted, Samek threw another blast at her, knocking her to the ground. “I’d better see you at home,” he warned, leaving the greenhouse.
“What are you doing on the floor, Vanti?” Janika asked when she reached her friend.
“I fell,” Vanti replied automatically.
“You are overdoing it again, Vanti!” Janika helped her up. “I’m going to talk to Kinokei if you keep that up.”
“I love working,” Vanti replied.
“You keep this up and I’m going to think you’re avoiding something,” Janika said.
“What, like you’re not?” Vanti retorted.
“Leave Coomar out of this!” Janika demanded.
“Then invite him!” Vanti replied. “He’s never going to know you love him if you don’t say something!”
“I did,” she said quietly.
“Has he replied yet?” Vanti asked.
“No. It’s been a few days now. I think I was just wrong,” Janika said sadly.
“Did you tell him of your undying love?”
“Of course not! It’s hardly the place. I just asked him if he was planning on coming to see us soon. I said that we were looking forward to seeing him, learning from him,” Janika said.
“That’s hopelessly drab!” Vanti replied. “How is he supposed to know you’re pining for him? You should let me write your next one. ‘My heart leaps when I see you on the holonews. I yearn for the day when you transplant yourself back into my greenhouse of love!’”
Janika shrieked in horrified laughter.
“At least send him a solstice greeting!” Vanti said.
“That was yesterday. We’ve now started a new year!”
“Then there’s no time like the present! Coomar, my love, I hope you will put the ‘new’ into my year!”
Janika was blushing with horror and looking over Vanti’s shoulder.
“Come home with me, Vanti,” Samek ordered.
♥
Irola – A’mara Complex
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“I’m so tired of being cooped up like this!” Saisha Sage complained.
“I totally get it, sweetheart,” Lucao Linden said, in bed next to her.
“We can’t even have fun together!” she complained again.
“We just have to be more creative,” he replied, stroking her.
“Owwww!” she cried suddenly.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“Bad cramp. Very bad!” she said, lying on her side, clutching her abdomen.
“I’m getting the stella!” Lucao said, hurrying out.
Saisha wanted to sleep, wanted to ignore the pain.
It didn’t take long for Truji to return with Saraca and Lucao.
“Show me where it hurts,” Truji said.
“I’m having another one!” Saisha shouted, clutching herself again.
Truji put her hand on Saisha’s abdomen. “It is as I feared,” she said quietly.
“What?!”
“You are miscarrying, darling. I’m so sorry!” Truji said, sitting near the girl.
“No!” Saisha said, immediately sobbing. “I know I’m still so young – everyone reminds me of that fact! But I wanted this baby! I want my Flower!” she cried.
Lucao sat on her other side, stroking her back. “I’m sorry. I wanted Flower too. More than anything – beyond your love, that is. We will get through this.”
“Here is a tincture to help you with the pains,” Truji said, giving her a dropper full of medicine.
Lucao squeezed it into her mouth.
“Saraca, do you have some pads for her?” Truji asked.
Saraca nodded.
“Saisha, your cramps are going to get worse, and you will start bleeding. It will be worse than a normal period and may continue for a few weeks,” Truji said. “Later, I will bring an oil to massage into you to help you recover and some herbal teas for you. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. We’re all here for you.”
Between her pains, Saisha sobbed; her heart breaking.
♥
Balan Mountains
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“I’m so glad we decided to stay a little longer,” the Curator crooned to Jasper as they lay in bed, watching the snow fall outside their window.
“Anything for you, my darling!” Jasper replied, letting the snow pull him into a light trance. Suddenly two faces flashed into his head.
“What’s that about?” the Curator asked curiously.
“I hate to talk business when we’re in bed.”
“Oh, go ahead,” she replied irritably.
“There is chatter about Uana and Viper being outed by the abári’s lover.”
“I know this. The woman nearly paid with her life for it. She knows far too much!”
“But there is also chatter that Fashi and Neeca know too much. They know about Uana and Viper – somehow. Just as they know about Sipper being bonded to Uana,” Jasper replied.
“I think it’s time to make ourselves known to this Fashi and Neeca pair. Time to pull them in closer.”
“They can’t be trusted!” Jasper protested. “Even Zidka has warned us of this.”
“So, we can either kill them, or we can blackmail them – or otherwise appeal to them. Anyone as smart as these two could be huge assets if we use them right,” the Curator said.
“You know how to rope them in already?”
“Give me a couple of weeks and I’ll know their weaknesses. Have you got your feeds running?”
“Always. I will know the moment they make any sudden moves,” Jasper said. “Meanwhile, we step up the poisonings, the little accidents currently plaguing Tephsa, X’lea and Atrua. We are poised to step in and give them a helping hand – in the name of the Neví, of course.”
“This whole merging with the Neví thing has got to be one of the most brilliant ideas our group have come up with since their arrival. Remind me to promote Uana for volunteering for this honorable role.”
“I will,” Jasper said, cuddling closer to his lover.
“Good. Now, I need you to pleasure me,” the Curator breathed, using all four blue arms to pull him closer to her tall, lithe body.
♥♥♥
If you have enjoyed this book, I would be grateful if you could put your thoughts as a review on Goodreads for me.
Other Chapters of this set
Birth of the Neví - coming soon on Whaleshares - otherwise, scroll way back on Steem (like summer 2018.)
Name of the Neví - Chapter 1
Maps and Guides
- Terrenden Atlas Pages (six maps of Almara and Kranisis.)
- characters, pronunciation, glossary and image credits
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Brighid's Blood 2006 and 1200 B.T.C.E. Katja and Rachel are so desperate for love that they cast two love spells one night. But the Guardians do not consider spells "fun", but rather as cries for help from the very depths of your soul. Certainly Katja and Rachel could not have possibly imagined where these spells would take them! |
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Birth of the Neví 829 T.C.E. It is a tumultuous period of Terrenden history. As is all too common, there are those who wish to profit from the misfortune of others. Some of these come together in a new "charitable organization" and step on the toes of the notorious Uugli. Combine this with draconian new measures to combat pollution and Terrenden has a situation ripe for a power struggle. Book 1 in the Rise of the Neví series. |
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Rebound of Power: 850 T.C.E. Collection of Romance Terrenden is being terrorized by a previously underestimated Neví who, through the mysterious “Curator,” have been controlling elections all over the planet. In this collection, we meet some interesting women. Iyva - a homeless teenager in Irola whose untrained power leaves her close to death in Rebound of Power; Marc’la - a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past in Friendship on Fire; Zukie - an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness in Courage to Trust; Jenna - an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara in Elect to Change; Kami - a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara in Ocean of Empathy. |
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Acting the Part - 851 T.C.E. Collection of Romance The Neví have infiltrated the Terrenden Freedom Party. Dr. Jarly is on the run and the Curator still dominates the Terrenden stage. Famous actor, Derick Aiden has released his Neví expose film and now the Neví want him dead... In this collection, we meet more interesting women. Kauri - a simple receptionist who doesn’t realize one of her wildest dreams has come true; in Acting the Part Tirry - an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; in Building on Promise Zara - a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; and D'zani - who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; in Spice of Strength Soala - an heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; and Moxara - one whose past griefs have locked away her heart in Sands of Survival. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
| COMING SOON | TO AN EBOOK STORE NEAR YOU!!! |
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Rise of the Neví - 830 T.C.E. In this series, the Neví begin their rise in power with the completion of several large housing projects that seem totally charitable, but also hide a great evil within. The draconian measures brought in the previous year has caused major distress throughout the world, perfect for giving the Neví a further foothold on the Terrenden stage. Will the A’mara, now removed from the Council of Peers, be able to shut down the Neví? Titles to include: Name of the Neví, Mind of the Neví... |
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**(To be Named)** - 852 T.C.E. Collection of Romance... It's confirmed that the Neví are now in all three houses of Parliament and most assemblies throughout Terrenden. Additionally, some are threatening to introduce legislation to severely cripple the A'mara of all their privileges.
In this collection, we will catch up with our fugitives (Iyva/Zilan, D'zani/Elíaz). We will also meet Celna Dellan in X'lea; Peri Harmon, a Peer Councilor in Irola; Janys Tyne, an elections team leader in Atrua; meet a nice (as of yet unnamed) woman in Kasago; and revisit Vissia and Catalia in Towani. |
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2019 – all rights reserved.
If you are interested in helping me publish these works, please contact me on Facebook or Discord, viking-ventures#2883.
Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
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blogging on: Steem, Whaleshares, WeKu, Hyperspace, Publish0x
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