“I know, Henry,” repeated Quinlan softly, not encouraging him and not wanting to hurt him. Deep down, under all his bluffing and posturing, he was a good man.
“Well,” said Henry, knowing his bid for a suitor was denied. “You can’t blame a man for trying, can you, Quinlan?”
Quinlan chuckled. “Good-bye, Henry.”
“Bye. I’ll check on you later.”
“Hang up,” Quinlan said, turning over on her stomach. The maid unit disconnected the call. With a sigh, she said to the unit, “Make it menu one tonight.”
Chapter Seven
Two weeks after Henry called, Quinlan finally made it off her bed, away from her bedroom, and out of her house—as far as the broken water fountain.
Looking around the quiet garden, she sighed. She rested her head against the hard stone of the fountain’s base as she stared up at the stars. Quinlan frowned at the beautiful night. The old saying wasn’t true. Time did not heal all wounds. Sometimes, time only made them worse.
“This is no way for a superhero to act.”
Quinlan frowned, her head darting up at the noise to look around. She blinked to make sure her vision was clear. She was alone.
“Hello?” she called. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as if an endless presence was around her. She could see nothing. “Is someone there?”
Quinlan’s breath caught in her throat. Right before her eyes a man materialized out of thin air. He was wearing a loose black shirt with a strange symbol on the chest. His dark pants fit snugly to his legs. His long, blonde hair blew in the wind as he watched her from the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. Scurrying to her feet, she stood, examining him through her awe. His gaze seemed to laugh good-naturedly at her open-mouthed amazement.
“Who are you?” she asked carefully. Her jaw hardened at his obvious humor. She was in no mood for the company of cheerful people. “This is private property. You can’t be here.”
“I am like you,” the man answered her first question, ignoring her second.
“You’re a woman beneath your clothes?” she asked, sarcastically.
“I am gifted,” he said. His body glimmered and he disappeared into thin air, only to materialize by her side, his hand on her shoulders.
Quinlan jumped, jerking away as if stung. “What do you want?”
“I want to offer you a job,” he answered.
“I’m not interested,” she dismissed immediately. “Now go away.”
“That is no way for a lady to treat a guest.”
Quinlan flinched as a woman materialized from a surrounding bush. Her chameleon body mirrored her surroundings, making her move as if she were air. Slowly, her body filled in with a pleasing peach color as she made herself known. She too wore a matching black uniform.
“Who are you?” Quinlan demanded. Her eyes shifted with purple, as she prepared to fight them.
“So it is true, Korbin” said the chameleon to the blue-eyed man at her side.
Korbin nodded. His smile widened.
“They are the Protectors,” answered a third voice. Quinlan turned. A third man walked up to her, his blue skin glimmering beneath silver flowing robes. His white hair parted down the center and hung nearly to his feet. Blinking, Quinlan saw that his eyes were so light a blue they were nearly white. “And I am the oracle who guides them.”
Quinlan glanced at the man and woman at her side. They bowed before the oracle. Quinlan nodded her head in suit, but as she did so, she took a hesitant step away from them.
“How many of you are there?” she asked, looking around in fright.
“Show yourselves,” ordered the oracle.
Quinlan tensed. It was like superheroes rained from the sky. All of them were different—some coming from behind trees, some appearing from thin air, some running in a blur to join the group. When nearly twenty of them were before her, their eyes shining, their bodies all clad in black uniforms, she gasped.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded, worried.
The group stood to watch as Korbin moved to face her. “It is as I said. We come to offer you a place within our family.”
“But, you don’t know me,” Quinlan said. “You...?”
“We know of you,” said the oracle. “I have looked into the future and have seen the possibility of your deeds. I have looked into your past and have seen what you have done, never asking for praise or reward. The only thing clouded is your present. You have a choice to make.”
“Choice?” she asked, her strength leaving her as she grew weary. “What choice?”
“You can continue to pine for your lost love,” said the oracle. His eyes shifted to complete white as he read her. “Or you can become an immortal, dedicating your years into doing that which you have already begun—helping the world be rid of evil forces.”
“There is a battle,” explained Korbin. “It’s good against evil. We’d like you to join us. Help us keep the scales tipped for the side of good. It is what your father was working on when he died. It is what he intended his formula to be used for.”
Quinlan began to shake her head, wishing she could deny their words. She could read the truth in their eyes, feel it in her. To become an immortal would mean she’d spend an eternity of her years longing for something she could never have—Nikandros.
“Yes, Silk,” said the oracle. “It will not be an easy task. You will lose much. You will sacrifice many things. The years will eat at you until you no longer know why you do it. But, in the end, you will make a difference. You’re father’s gift to you will not have been in vain.”
Quinlan swallowed.
“The moon wanes, Silk,” said the oracle. “I need an answer. We will not ask you this again.”
Quinlan looked around her. They were offering her an endless lifetime of serving others, of living alone as she did now. Seeing their faces, she knew she’d have them as her family. But, they were strangers. She started to shake her head, but something deep inside her stopped her. She thought of her father. She could not let his last scientific discovery go to waste.
“Yes,” she said. Without Nikandros, she didn’t have anything else to live for anyway.
The oracle smiled. “Come to me.”
She stepped forward, glancing nervously around.
The oracle placed a hand on her cheek. His eyes darkened in their blue. “I give you the gift.”
Quinlan tensed. He leaned over to kiss her and a soft mist drew out of his lips, coming inside her. She felt her limbs strengthen with a great force. She felt the knowledge of old being passed into her, teaching her of her duty, forcing an oath of loyalty from her mind. His lips were soft and passionless against her. She closed her eyes to his brightness. In the next instant, the lips were gone.
Quinlan blinked. The yard was empty.
“Welcome,” came a voice from behind her.
Quinlan jolted, turning to look at Korbin. He was the only one left with her. She swallowed, a little frightened by what had just happened.
“What now?” she whispered, feeling very strange.
Korbin merely smiled, motioning over her shoulder as he disappeared into thin air.
Quinlan turned. Her limbs shook as a soft mist began to travel over the yard. She held very still, watching it gather as it drew before her. The mist rose, forming into a man.
“Nick?” she breathed, seeing his face. “What ... how?”
“Quinlan,” he smiled, reaching for her.
Tears entered her eyes and she backed away. “You can’t be here, Nick. You have to go.”
“I can’t be anywhere else,” he whispered.
“What’s going on? Who are you? What are you?” she demanded, shaking. This was all too much. Her eyes took him in, telling her that he was very real. But she couldn’t go to him. She was afraid he would disappear from her like a dream, as he did every morning when she awoke.
“I am an immortal,” Nikandros said, his eyes slowly drifting to red as he looked at her. �
�Nearly five hundred years ago I was born human, like the others. My town was attacked by a vampire. I fought him and was bitten. Before I turned, I killed him. The oracle found me and gave me the same choice he gave you.”
“You’re a vampire?” she asked weakly. “But, I’ve seen you in sunlight.”
“Half-vampire,” he murmured, again trying to step for her. “The change wasn’t completed. The oracle saved me in time.”
“You’re supposed to help people. Why were you trying to steal my father’s formula?” she inquired. This time when he came for her, she couldn’t run. The sweetness of his voice made her will crumble.
“I was trying to stop you from selling it,” he answered. She could read the truth of it in his expression.
“It was you, wasn’t it?” she whispered. “It was you who worked with my father when I was a child.”
“Yes,” he admitted. “I did.”
Suddenly, Quinlan couldn’t take it. She rushed forward, her arms wrapping around his sturdy neck. Tears streamed down her face, as she said, “I thought I’d never see you again. I was so scared.”
Nikandros’ chest convulsed with relief. He pulled her tightly against him and began to kiss her, never wanting to take his lips away.
“Why did you stay away so long?” she panted, running her hands all over his delectable body to make sure he was real.
“I had to convince the council to test you,” he said. “It’s the only way we could be together.”
“What test?” she sighed, pulling back to look into the solid dark depths of his eyes.
“To see if you would selflessly choose to serve others, regardless of the personal cost,” he answered. “The oracle knew you would think you had nothing to gain by saying yes.”
“I almost refused,” she admitted. “What would have happened if I did?”
“You would have never seen me again,” he replied. “You would have lived out your life as you have been.”
Quinlan, hating the thought, pressed her body into his. She kissed him fervently, knocking him over to the ground in her passion for him. Nikandros chuckled in surprise at her ardor, but only pulled her closer.
“Never leave me again,” she demanded, grasping his face in her hands. “I love you. I need you.”
“I love you, too,” he whispered.
As Quinlan leaned over to kiss him, Nikandros saw Korbin standing over them, grinning like a fool. Korbin winked at him, nodding his head as he shot him a thumb’s up. Nikandros frowned, waving his hand for his friend to get lost. Korbin disappeared as Quinlan broke the kiss and glanced over her shoulder.
“What...?” she began.
Nikandros rolled her swiftly onto her back. When she looked up at him, his head was surrounded by stars. “It’s nothing, just a pest.”
At his comment, Nikandros felt an invisible kick to his backside, pushing him down fully onto Quinlan. Her body jolted in surprise. In the next instant, Nikandros knew Korbin had finally gone.
Quinlan smiled brightly, happiness flooding out of her onto him. Moaning, leaning up to capture his lips, nothing else mattered. He was hers and she was his. With tenderness in their hearts, they proceeded to make love right there on the lawn.
The End
About the Author, Michelle M. Pillow
Michelle M. Pillow, Author of All Things Romance™, is a multi-published, award winning author writing in many romance fiction genres including futuristic, paranormal, historical, contemporary, fantasy and dark paranormal. Ever since she can remember, she has had a strange fascination with anything supernatural—ghosts, magical powers, and oh… vampires. What could be more alluring than being immortal, all-powerful, and eternally beautiful? After discovering historical romance novels, it was only natural that the supernatural and love/romance elements should someday meet in her wonderland of a brain. She’s glad they did for their children have been pouring onto the computer screen ever since.
She has been nominated for the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award 2011, the winner of the 2006 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, nominated for the 2007 RT Award, a Brava Novella Contest Finalist and a PAN member of RWA.
Michelle is a journalist for Paranormal Underground Magazine. She has a BGS in History/Business with an English Minor, and a Photography degree. In 2009 she and fellow author Mandy M. Roth started their own highly successful self-publishing endeavor named The Raven Books.
Michelle has titles published with The Raven Books, Pocket Books, Random House, Virgin Books, Adam’s Media, Samhain Publishing, Running Press, and more.
She loves to hear from readers. They can contact her through her website www.michellepillow.com.
Join her email newsletter at www.michellepillow.com/newsletter/?p=subscribe
To learn more about Michelle M. Pillow please visit her website www.MichellePillow.com
The Raven Books’ Complimentary Material
The following material is free of charge. It will never affect the price of your book.
Divinity Warriors I: Lilith Enraptured
Alternate Reality Romance
Divinity Warriors Book One
Sorin of Firewall lives in a land forever at war. In fact, the Starian men are so busy fighting, their marriage ceremony has been reduced to a “will of the gods” event where they simply pick a woman out of a lineup and claim her as a wife. With women becoming scarce, it’s necessary to trade the offworld Divinity Corporation for brides. Duty-bound to attend the ceremony, he has no intention of picking a bride, let alone one from another dimension. Duty-bound to attend the ceremony, he has no intention of picking a bride, let alone one from another dimension. That is, until he sees Lilith, the bewitching woman sent by the gods to reward—or punish?—him.
Lilith, a data analyst for Divinity, is betrayed by the Corporation and wakes up in a primitive, uncharted dimension filled with warriors who only know war and duty. But her initial fears of becoming a sex slave to a big beefy knight become all too real when a warrior of god-like proportions claims she’s his new woman. As Lilith discovers, there are worse fates than being the focus of Sorin’s skillful and earthy seduction.
Lilith Enraptured Excerpt
Sorin took several deep breaths, feeling as he did when about to go into battle. Heat filled him as tension worked its way into his limbs. With a single thought, he could will his body to spring into action. He could erase her from the world and end this before it started.
But it was too late. He was lost the moment he’d looked at her, had seen her big blue eyes staring at him in trepidation. No, he was lost before that, when he felt her looking at him, beckoning him with her unwavering gaze to find her in the crowd.
Temptress. Witch.
He willed the desire inside him to go away. It shouldn’t have been so strong. He’d relieved himself like he always did, had spilled his seed to ease the lonely ache.
Light from the fireplace shone through the white of her gown, silhouetting the long length of her legs and arms. The linen clung to her shoulders, swooping gently along the curves of her breasts—breasts that would be bare beneath. The tied hands were a new addition to the ceremony, thanks to Sir Aidan’s wayward woman, Lady Paige. Sorin’s barbaric side found he liked the addition.
Hunger rushed into every limb, lifting his cock beneath the long tunic. He didn’t think to hide the reaction. No one would care. It had been so long, so very long, since he’d had a woman in his bed. He suppressed a groan. Soft flesh. Round breasts. Taut nipples. Slick, warm vessel to catch his passion. That certain female smell when he pressed his nose to her sex.
A thought whispered in the back of his mind. Maybe she’s different. Maybe she’ll be better. Maybe this one will stay.
He cursed the thought. No. She wasn’t different. She wasn’t better. Sorin had made up his mind long ago. He’d come, he’d look, but he never, ever wanted to find someone. He wasn’t meant to have this, or her, or any kind of peace. Sorin was born into a land of war. He was made for it, every
piece of him. One of the bloodiest battles in their history happened the very hour his mother gave birth to him.
Some were lucky to find peace in marriage, but not him. Tradition and necessity dictated he come to these ceremonies and try to find someone. He came from a noble line, a position of power, one that demanded he have sons to carry on his family’s name. But society could not make him choose. It could not make him step forward and lay claim.
“Mine.”
Where did that word come from? It sounded like his voice, booming over the hall to quiet all who watched into stunned silence. It felt like his body refusing to go to his place at the table, instead moving forward with arm uplifted to point at the blonde-haired beauty. But it couldn’t be his body or his voice. That would mean he’d just announced his claim. Everyone would have heard it. He couldn’t back out once the word was said.
“Sorin?” his younger brother, Ronen, hissed. Like Sorin, Ronen led one of the more renowned armies in all of Staria. Very few would dare to challenge their word or honor and the fact made it even more impossible for Sorin to take back what he’d done.
“Mine,” Sorin found himself repeating. Was he possessed? What madness was this? He kept walking toward her. She merely stared at him, those wide, gorgeous eyes capturing his. Straight blonde hair hung long down her back, just as a woman’s should.
“Brother?” Ronen questioned. The shock was evident in his voice. Sorin couldn’t blame him for the surprise because that very day he’d been instructing Ronen to stay strong and not fall for a woman’s pretty face. And what did Sorin do? He claimed a woman with a pretty face.
The hall remained quiet. Sorin stopped before the woman, noting with pleasure that she didn’t cringe and fall away from his looming presence. Her strength would serve her well. Years of frustrated desires surged inside him. He couldn’t put them off any longer. Deny it as he might, he needed a woman. He would never admit the words out loud. The need was not just for physical release, but for the softness of her, the sweet smell and the temporary relief from the endless fighting that such a creature could bring.
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