About the Author
Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, S.T. Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of McVities cookies. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the books of The Elsker Saga (TUR, ELSKER, ENDRE and TRO). She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day, pastries will be considered a health food. Find S.T. on her website, Twitter @stbende, Facebook, or sign up for her newsletter to hear about her next release. While you’re at it, introduce yourself to @UllMyhr — when he’s not saving the cosmos from dark elves, he loves meeting new friends. Especially the human kind.
Titles:
The Elsker Saga Box Set (Books 1-3 + Novella)
Tur (The Elsker Saga #0.5)
Elsker (The Elsker Saga #1)
Endre (The Elsker Saga #2)
Tro (The Elsker Saga #3)
Social Media Links:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
THE RELEASE OF RAE
by Tish Thawer
In this scene, Raeanne has just become the first Seelie Fae Queen and finds herself magically married to her Hand, Prayter. After exploring their castle, a first kiss ignites their passion and leads them to seal their enchanted bond.
***
Raeanne’s father came racing out the door, frantically waving in their direction.
“Rae, hurry. Something wonderful is happening.”
With a quick glance at each other, they both sprinted towards her house.
When they entered the living room her father slapped Prayter on the shoulder as if they’d known each other forever.
Rae would have questioned the gesture if her attention wasn’t transfixed on the portal shimmering in the corner of the room and the old fairy standing beside it.
“Raeanne, I’m glad you’re back. My name is Manix, and I’m a member of the fairy council. I was just explaining to your parents that the time to fulfill your destiny has come.”
“My destiny? But my trial isn’t for another month.” She sat the bread basket on the floor, then wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt.
“Your trial became irrelevant the moment you met your Hand.”
The confusion layering her mind was so thick that words completely escaped her.
Thankfully, Prayter spoke up instead. “Her Hand?” he questioned.
Manix gestured to the couch and waited as they all took their seats.
“The fairy spirits came to your parents when you were born, with a special request of what to name you. It was done so because you, Raeanne, are to be our first queen.”
The gasps that filled the room were the only interruption to Manix’s story. “The fairy spirits have been led by the Goddess Diana to name a queen who can lead our people. When you were conceived, your energy was fused with the silver magick of the fairy realm. Your Hand,” he gestured to Prayter, “was also chosen by the spirits to be your mate.”
With wide eyes, Rae stared at Prayter, amazed by the silver streaks that were currently threading their way through his hair.
When a mature fairy completed their trial, the magick that took root as they received their wings displayed as streaks throughout their hair. Anyone with water magick developed blue streaks, earth magick presented as green streaks, and spirit magick showed as silver, which held the highest connection to the fairy realm.
“Queen? My daughter is going to be the first fairy queen?” Her mother’s voice was quivering as tears filled her eyes. Raeanne moved to comfort her.
Manix interrupted their tender moment by saying, “Raeanne. Now that you’ve found Prayter, all you need to do is enter the portal to claim your destiny as our queen.”
***
The moment Rae and Prayter stepped out of the portal, they both gasped. In front of them stood the most beautiful castle, rising higher than the eye could see, against the brilliant blue sky.
Raeanne squealed and threw herself into Prayter’s arms as her mother, father, and Manix emerged from the portal behind them.
“This is a gift from the fairy spirits. The official castle of the Seelie Fae Queen. Welcome to your new home, Raeanne.”
“This is just so unreal. How can I be the Queen? I don’t even have my magick or wings yet.”
Manix walked forward, motioning for them all to follow.
“All you have to do is enter your castle to claim your destiny and take your place as our Queen.”
Rae bit her lip as she looked between her mother and father, then turned to Prayter, who gave her a reassuring nod.
As Rae placed her hand on the large iron handle of the intricately carved wooden door, a tingling sensation rushed through her entire body. The door suddenly began to glow, and Rae was lifted into the air, her body engulfed in a brilliant silver light. She could feel her wings beginning to form, and the amount of magickal energy coursing through her was so intense, it was as if the gods were actually touching her.
As she floated softly to the ground she found her parents staring at her with tears in their eyes and a sense of wonder on their faces.
“Mama, what’s wrong?”
“Raeanne. You’re so…beautiful.” Her mother covered her mouth in an effort to hold back her soft sobs.
Rae turned to Prayter and found him wearing a similar expression. Manix motioned for her to turn again towards the castle door. What she found had her sharing in their feeling of disbelief.
The door was now a mirror, and the image she saw reflected was that of a beautiful full-fledged fairy with pure silver hair, and the most amazing pair of white wings. They shimmered as if they were coated in diamonds, reaching far above her head and down to just inches above the ground.
Before she could say a word, the door returned to its wooden state and Manix spoke again. “Within this castle you’ll find many wonders, but one of the most enchanted is this special door. It has been forged from the Rune Tree, and will always protect you from those who pass through it. This is just one of the many gifts the spirits have bestowed upon you, Raeanne.”
Rae pushed off the ground and felt as though flying was the most natural thing in the world. She hoped that being Queen would come just as easily.
Before Manix disappeared back through the portal, he held out his hand and smiled as the first flakes of pure white snow fell into his palm. Bowing, he said, “Take the next month to make this castle your home, for on Christmas day there will be a celebration in your honor. The Rise of Rae, the first Queen of the Fae.”
***
Raeanne, Prayter, and her parents entered the enchanted castle, timid and unsure of what to expect.
“Oh, Raeanne, it’s beautiful,” her mother gasped.
The spacious entry was white marble, accented by gold and silver accessories displayed in every niche. A massive staircase swept up the side of the wall and contained scrolling metal work that was illuminated in a soft, silver glow, providing a never-ending nightlight.
A long corridor veered to the right, leading deeper into the castle. Upon closer inspection, they found it contained multiple chambers. The first one was clearly meant to be used as a meeting place for the fairy council, as their insignia was on full display, carved into the massive hearth at the back of the room.
“It looks like we’ll have plenty of visitors, Rae, if this is the meant to be the council’s meeting place,” Prayter stated.
“Yes, it seems we certainly will.”
They all moved deeper into the space, each looking at different pieces of exquisitely crafted furniture. Raeanne met Prayter’s eyes across the long wooden table and blushed when he winked at her.
After exploring the rest of the chambers, Rae and Prayter followed her parents back to the main entrance.
“I’m so proud of you,” Sari gushed. “My daughter, the first Fae Queen.”
Raeanne hugged her mother and father and bid them farewell, waving as they entered the portal that wo
uld take them home. She closed the castle door then turned to find Prayter pacing at the base of the stairs.
“She’s right, this is so unbelievable,” Rae confessed. “I can’t believe I’m the very first Seelie Fae Queen, and that somehow we’ve ended up magically married,” she giggled.
A nervous tension layered the air as Prayter smiled, then stepped up and took Rae by the hand.
“It may be unbelievable to you, but I knew from the moment I saw you that we were meant to be.” He leaned in and placed a light kiss on her lips.
Lust sparked between them, which may have been magically enhanced, a result of the Queen and her Hand sharing their first kiss. But enhanced or not, their mated feelings were real and suddenly undeniable.
Prayter wrapped his arms around Rae’s waist, gliding his hands slowly up her back while gently minding her wings.
“I want you, Raeanne.” The look on Prayter’s face was heated as he gauged her reaction.
Rae’s passion matched his own when she crushed her lips to his. She wound her hands through his silver-streaked hair and let the wave of desire carry them both into the air.
It became obvious the castle was truly hers as she instinctually found their bed-chamber. Large wooden doors stood open, revealing a grand four-poster bed centered in a spacious white marble room. Blue and purple jewel-toned fabrics lent to the mystical feeling of the entire space, and the large domed skylight provided a magical view of the moon and stars.
They touched down near the bed and continued to kiss as Prayter began to unbutton his shirt.
Raeanne stilled his hands with hers and took over the task. With achingly slow movements, she worked each button until the soft fabric lay open against his chest. She opened her eyes to find Prayter’s heated gaze and pushed the shirt from his shoulders.
She remained silent as they continued to undress each other. The confidence Rae felt must too have come from being the Queen, because standing naked in front of a boy wasn’t something she would have considered even a day ago.
But Prayter wasn’t just a boy, he was her Hand, chosen by the fairy spirits and made to love only her. Rae soaked in the sight of his broad shoulders and smooth chest as he laid back across the feather mattress. Unable to wait a moment longer, she crawled up his body, brushing his erection with her skin.
Prayter sucked in a breath. “Rae,” he moaned.
The surprise of knowing just what to do should have thrown her off balance, but in light of the night’s events, she was done questioning her destiny.
Raeanne kissed her way up Prayter’s chest and neck, then after a few pecks and nibbles, she ran her tongue along the seam of his lips and flattened her body against his.
Prayter’s breathing became fast and heavy as he laid perfectly still. Following her instincts she lowered herself onto his shaft. She closed her eyes and quickly moved past the sharp stab of pain when Prayter grabbed her hips and began to writhe beneath her.
“Mmmm…Rae, you feel so good.”
Raeanne moaned in response as she gingerly started to match his movements. She leaned forward, her long silver hair encasing them in a curtain that blocked out the world. Prayter reached up and wound his fingers through the strands. “Open your eyes, Raeanne.”
She did as instructed and managed a sensual smile before tossing her head back when Prayter began to fondle her breasts. She continued to ride him, their mutual pleasure increasing with every stroke.
Raeanne felt something cold touch her back. She opened her eyes, assuming it was Prayter’s hand, but lost control when she realized their mated connection had burst to life in a display of elemental wonderment. Snowflakes surrounded them as they became lost to one another in a melding of flesh and emotion.
Raeanne laughed as she crawled off Prayter and snuggled into his arms. “Thank you for making my first time something I’ll never forget.”
Prayter tilted her chin up and kissed her passionately. “You are my Queen, and I’ll happily spend eternity making memories with you. I love you, Raeanne.”
Joyous tears filled her eyes. “I love you, too.”
***
The Release of Rae is an extended bonus scene from The Rise of Rae (An Ovialell Short-Story) by Tish Thawer.
About the Author
Tish Thawer writes paranormal romances for all ages, including her new adult series’ The Rose Trilogy and The Women of Purgatory Trilogy, as well as her adult paranormal romance, The Ovialell Series, and young adult short-stories. Her magickal elements and detailed world-building are a welcome constant in every novel.
Before becoming a writer she worked as a computer consultant, a photographer and a graphic designer. She also operates a custom glass etching business, in addition to being a wife and the mother of three wonderful children.
Available Titles at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, All Romance eBooks, Books-A-Million, and other participating retailers.
The Rose Trilogy:
Scent of a White Rose ~ Book #1
Roses & Thorns ~ Book #1.5
Blood of a Red Rose ~ Book #2
Death of a Black Rose ~ Book #3
The Rose Trilogy Box Set ~ Full Collection
Ovialell series: (Pronounced Oh-vee-uh-lell)
Aradia Awakens ~ Book #1
Prophecy’s Child ~ Companion
The Rise of Rae ~ Companion
Shay and the Box of Nye ~ Companion
Behind the Veil ~ An Ovialell Omnibus
The Women of Purgatory:
Raven’s Breath (Book #1)
Social Links:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
A Valkyrie’s Song
By Ednah Walters
They move among Mortals, using the powers of runes to become invisible, heighten their speed, and manipulate things; but more often, they hide in plain sight. Like the boy seated across from you in math class. The captain of the cheer squad. The hot new quarterback. Or the new neighbor across from your apartment.
Wherever they appear, death follows. They are soul reapers—the Valkyries and Grimnirs—collecting warriors for Asgard to fight in the end-of-the-world battle between the gods and the giants. Working beside them on earth are Immortals, men and women given immortality by the power of runes.
Yet when they leave, memories are erased and Mortals don’t remember ever meeting them, unless you’ve been chosen to join them… Or if one of them falls in love with you.
Raine Cooper met and fell in love with Torin St. James without knowing what he was. He too thought she was just another Mortal. But Raine is much more than they both realized. This scene occurs after Torin learns that his father, a rogue Immortal, has kept his mother’s soul tethered to him for nine centuries with the hopes of personally escorting her to Asgard. A furious Torin engages his runes and takes off at a hyper-speed.
***
Raine
“TORIN!” I yelled, but he was gone, his glow hidden by the thick forest despite the line of fallen trees.
Way to go, Raine. Some girlfriend you are. Tomorrow the rangers would have a field day with this. Trees being uprooted from the ground without a trace of tires weren’t common. If Torin left footprints, and I was sure he did, another alien story would surface in Kayville Daily.
The poor fallen trees. I touched one uprooted trunk, wishing we didn’t leave so much supernatural evidence behind every time a soul reaper threw a hissy fit and vented.
A movement came from my left, and I jumped back. The leaves rustled and moved as though something was crawling from under the fallen tree. A black bear was my first thought.
The tree lifted. My heart hurtling to my throat, I stepped back, not realizing how close I was to the manmade slope bordering the road. I lost my footing and fell backwards. Rocks and sticks dug into my skin as I rolled toward the road. I tried to break my fall, tendrils of panic coiling around me. I scrambled to my f
eet at the edge of the road, expecting an animal to come lumbering after me. Instead, the tree that had fallen was now upright.
No, it couldn’t be. People of the Old Religion like the Druids could control elements. Did I cause the tree to lift up and replant itself by reattaching its root?
Blood pounding past my ears, I stood there undecided. Where was Torin? I needed him. I peered past the now-standing tree, but there was no glowing being anywhere. Mastering some courage, I pulled myself back up to the fallen trees and touched another root. As it moved and struggled to lift itself, the root sank into the ground.
Laughing, I touched the next root and another. Finally, I went big, splayed my hands like some all-powerful witch and yelled, “Stand and let your roots sink into the earth. Live and be the giver of life and shelter.”
Okay, so I got carried away, but it seemed to be working. The trees rose, creaks and rustles filling the air, the earth shaking as roots disappeared into the ground.
Where was Torin? He should see this.
Pleased with myself, I ran down to the middle of the road, spun around at a super speed with my hand held up, and woo-hooed. This could be the start of a trend. A pissed-of Torin hell bent on destroying everything in his path with me following him and cleaning up his mess.
Nah, that sounded exactly like what Norns did. Cleaned up after Valkyries. This was different. Torin was hurting deep inside. Somewhere even I couldn’t reach because of his father.
A flash of light came from deep inside the forest and pulled me to the present. Then a streak of light zipped through the trees. Torin. Within seconds, he stopped beside me. His eyes burned under the glowing runes etched into his skin.
“What are you doing?” His voice whipped through the night, and I winced.
“Trying to get your attention,” I said. “See, I fixed all the trees you destroyed. Cool, right?”
“You do not want to be around me right now, Freckles.”
“I disagree. I plan to be around you when you are happy, sad, pissed off, hurting, acting like a jackass, goofing off, or showing off. Whatever and whenever. You and I are a package deal, pal. Equal partners and all that jazz.” I pointed at a nearby tree and moved my finger left and right. The tree swayed. “Any time you want to destroy nature, get me first.”
Losing It: A Collection of VCards Page 17