by Amber Kell
"You're the reason he didn't reincarnate, aren't you? It wasn't your mother at all."
She turned imploring eyes to Kres, like he was going to side with her, as if she were only misunderstood instead of crazy. "It's mother's fault he came back. I had it all under control, but no, she said it was unnatural to deprive the people of their king. I think it's unnatural to deprive people of a bloodline. I can bring new blood and children to the throne. Instead of recycling the same garbage, we could have a fresh start. With enough human blood in our system, we won't need full humans."
"I am imprisoning you as an enemy of the crown." Vohne's voice was calm and even, but Kres could feel fury pulsing through their link.
"You can lock me up, but you can never stop us all. We will take back this planet from antiquated ideas and bring it into the future."
Kres stepped forward. "We will stop you all. Anyone who threatens my man won't have to worry about jail." He let the threat hang in the air.
She softened her stance as she looked at him. "Kres, we can be friends. I don't blame you for following your mate's lead. You've been doing it for so long you don't know any better. Join with me and I can free you from his influence. As the acknowledged king-mate, you and I can rule together."
Kres couldn't believe the woman's gall. "You don't care who rules by your side as long as you can rule. I don't know who you have behind you, but they'd best watch for that knife in their back."
"I could make you king!"
Shaking his head, Kres gave her a sad look. "Honey, that's where you made your mistake. I've never wanted to be king."
With a scream of fury, she shoved free of her guards. "If I can't have him, neither can you." With inhuman strength, she kicked out at Bleine's chamber.
Before their horrified gaze, the cryogenic pod fell over, shattering on the floor.
"No!" Vohne rushed to his brother's side. Bleine's body convulsed, gasping from the shock of sudden exposure.
"Get the medic," Kres shouted. "And contain her." He didn't know what stood as a doctor on this planet, but if they didn't get help soon, his mate's brother wouldn't survive.
A sound of someone choking drew his attention to his right.
A soldier lay there convulsing. "What's wrong with him?" he asked the closest soldier.
The man rushed over to hold down the convulsing man. "Sarler is an empath."
"Human?"
"Yeah."
"Perfect."
Kres walked over and lifted the slim human in his arms. Luckily the guy was fairly light. He might be a soldier, but he wasn't up to Thresl strength.
He almost dropped Sarler twice on the way over to Bleine. The kid kept wiggling and convulsing.
Vohne looked up. "What?"
"I'm solving this problem. I don't have time for hand wringing, and the medics are taking too long."
Kres carefully laid the empath next to Bleine, pressing the two men's hands together.
Immediately, the convulsions stopped. Bleine's eyes snapped open, the focus in them sharp as if he'd just closed them instead of going into a cryogenic chamber. Sitting up, he leaned over the empath and planted a kiss on the young human.
Pleased with his solution, Kres stepped back and found himself the focus of his mate's disapproving look.
"What?"
"Bleine isn't gay."
He looked down at the two men kissing then back at Vohne. "Looks like he's doing fine to me. Want me to give him some pointers?"
"No! He is mine. I'll kill you!" Niafe's voice cut through the room.
Kres looked over in time to see Niafe grab one guard's knife and stab the other one. The uninjured guard grabbed at her as she ran for Bleine.
Instinct took over.
Snatching up his weapon, Kres threw it towards her. The blade spun in the air with a soft whistling noise before embedding in the center of her throat.
With a strangled gasp, she fell to the ground, fingers scrabbling at the dagger. Before she could pull it out, her movements stilled. Blood poured from the wound, and her eyes rolled to the back of her head.
Kres was sick of people trying to kill him. Dammit, he'd come here to have a peaceful life with his lover, and he was going to do it if he had to stab every one of the fuckers.
A medic shoved through the crowd, falling to his knees beside her.
"About time you got here," Kres growled. "She's dead. Check the prince."
The man paled beneath Kres's glare. With shaking hands, he pulled an instrument out of his bag then waved a long glowing wand over the two men. "Prince Bleine and his mate will be fine." He pulled a syringe out of his bag, quickly injecting Bleine. "This will help his body adapt."
The human tore himself away from Bleine. "I can't be his mate."
"Why not?" Bleine asked.
"Neither of us are lovers of men."
Kres shook his head. "You people are too much drama for me. I'm going to bed. I've had a long day." Turning on his heel, he marched out of the room.
He hid his smile as he heard Vohne's footsteps follow him. He'd know the sound of his mate anywhere.
"Would you like company?"
He gave his mate a careful once-over. "You might as well come along and pound me into the mattress. I mean, other than ruling a planet, you've got nothing to do."
Vohne gave a choked laugh. "True."
"Maybe we should get you a hobby, like flower arranging," Kres said, warming to his theme.
"Why would I need to arrange flowers?"
Kres flashed him an innocent look. "Well, they're not going to arrange themselves."
"True. Or I could be your boy toy."
"Hmmm." Kres gave the offer the serious attention the proposal deserved. "You're certainly pretty enough, but can you practice saying important things like yes, sir, whatever you say, sir? Because I really get off on the power thing."
Vohne's rich laugh filled the corridor. "Yes, I've heard you're a power hungry bastard."
"Yep, that's me." Switching thoughts, he turned serious. "We'll need to figure out who Niafe was working with."
Vohne nodded. "But not today. Today we'll enjoy each other. We'll have time after our mating ceremony to hunt down the betrayers."
"Maybe your brother will have better insight."
"Maybe," Vohne agreed.
"I think that was supposed to be maybe, sir." Reaching over, Kres pinched Vohne's ass before fleeing down the hall, laughing as he heard his mate chasing after him.
Tonight, they would enjoy their bond. Tomorrow, he had to be fitted with formal robes for the mating ceremony and do the million and one things a king-mate was required to do. Glancing back at his quickly-gaining lover, he decided, homicidal maniacs and all, there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for the man-cat he'd grown to love.
The End
About the Author:
Amber Kell is a dreamer who has been writing stories in her head for as long as she could remember.
She lives in Texas with her husband, two sons, two cats and one very stupid dog. To learn more about her current books or works in progress, check out her blog at http://amberkell.wordpress.com. Her fans can also reach her at [email protected].
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Also by Amber Kell:
Available at Silver Publishing:
Blood Signs
Xavier's Xmas
Soldier Mine (Aug 20)
Blood Signs 2: Samhain's Kiss (Oct 15)
Tempting Sin (2012)
Tempting Sin 2: Testing Arthur (2012)
A WIZARD'S TOUCH
Jaynell's Wolf
Kevin's Alpha
Kellum's Wizard (Nov 26)
HIDDEN MAGIC
William's House
Mode
ling Death
DRAGONMEN
Mate Hunt
Mate Test (July 23)
Mate Dance (Nov 5)
Mate Healer (2012)
FAE
A Guitarist in the Fae Queen's Court (Sept 17)
MOON PACK
Attracting Anthony
Baiting Ben
Courting Calvin
Denying Dare
Enticing Elliott
Finding Farro
Getting Gabe
Hunting Henry
Inflaming Inno (Sept 3)
Judging Jager (Oct 1)
HEART OF THE THRESL
Soldier Mine
** Please Note: All dates given are open to change **
Awards:
Top 10 Best Selling Author 2010
ARe (All Romance ebooks)
Reviews:
Literary Nymphs Reviews gives Jaynell's Wolf 5 Nymphs!
Jaynell Marley arrives at Mayell Wizard Academy to complete his training. Jay had already had years of advanced private tutoring, therefore his school enrollment is more to honor his father's wishes. Joining his new dorm roommates for pizza, Jay literally bumps into werekin Thomas Sparks. A sniff at Jay's neck has Thomas proclaiming that Jay is his mate.
Jaynell's Wolf is the first book in the Wizard's Touch series. The plot is well written plus vastly entertaining. The main characters are impressive, along with amusing secondary characters. Jaynell is a powerful wizard who wonders why his father insisted that Jay attend a school when it is clear Jay surpasses everyone in magical skills. However, Jay has an unpretentious personality. Thomas is a considerate protector, as long as others keep a respectful distance from Jay. The secondary characters include Gnomes, dragons, half elf, wolf pack in addition to a variety of wizards in training. I thoroughly enjoyed Jaynell's Wolf. Amber Kell has created a fantastic flight of the imagination that is laugh-out-loud hilarious, interwoven with heartwarming moments as well as rousing scenes of intimate passion. I look forward to the next addition to the Wizard's Touch series.
* * * *
Lisa at Joyfully Reviewed — "Blood Signs is captivating"
"Deliciously dark at times and delightfully wicked as well, Blood Signs is pure entertainment… [T]he plot will hold you, the characters are engaging, and Blood Signs is hard to put down once you start. Blood Signs is captivating.