by SJ Himes
King Llyr laughed, delighted. Jaime couldn’t help the grin that followed, and chuckled. Maxim’s father was remarkably down to earth, and far kinder than anyone might assume a king to be.
“Have you seen your older brothers yet?” King Llyr asked Maxim, still chuckling. Maxim sat in a chair beside Jaime, reaching over to take his hand.
Maxim laughed. “I doubt we’ll see Elric before noon, and Janis is likely in the courtyard with Marcus, letting off some steam. Janis detests parties, and the Grand Ball would have had him on edge all night.”
“Takes after his father,” King Llyr grumbled, winking at Jaime. “Though I always spent the day after the Grand Ball in the private garden off my library. I know you’ve shown Jaime the palace library, but have you shown him the private one here in the residence?”
“I haven’t, no,” Maxim answered, grinning. “Would you object?”
“Certainly not,” King Llyr waved a frail hand, dismissing the idea. “Take him to see it now, actually. The view of the mountains from the garden this time of morning is spectacular. Come back and see me after you do, I’ll have that item you asked for.”
Jaime found himself escorted out with remarkable alacrity, puzzled, a borrowed cloak about his shoulders. Maxim led him down that short hall, which had a branch halfway down, one heading to a set of rooms he presumed to be Queen Amal’s, and an older passage with a faint layer of dust on the floors. If the king had been ill for a long time, it likely explained the lack of traffic to his private library.
“I love libraries, but why are we going to see this one, and now?” Jaime asked in a whisper, as Maxim shouldered open a door. It was a smaller room than the king’s bedchamber, and it held nothing but books, a desk, and a small cast iron stove that was unlit. A pair of glass doors, the planes frosted, stood opposite of the entrance, and glowed with the rising sun.
“I promise I’ll explain everything in a minute.” Maxim promised, heading for a nearby shelf, and looked for a moment before grabbing a tome. He tilted his head to Jaime, gesturing for him to follow. “Come and see.”
The doors resisted being opened, but eventually they did, a shower of snow and small icicles falling as Maxim pushed them open. The terrace was a converted garden space, hedges and heritage pine trees groomed to remain small hugging the stone walls, and perhaps twenty feet deep. Jaime had no idea how high they were, but the view to the mountains made it feel as if he could reach out and touch them. The snow wasn’t horribly deep, and Maxim guided Jaime to a bench with a stone arch bowing over it and ancient pines hugging the stonework. Maxim brushed off the bench, before gallantly bowing to Jaime to sit.
Jaime did, bemused, but willing to humor his lover. Maxim handed over the tome and smiled down at him. “I need to grab a cloak; I’ll borrow one from my father. I’ll be a moment only. Stay right here.”
Maxim took off, not even bothering to close the glass doors behind him. Jaime frowned, but curiosity had him opening the book.
The drawing of the gryphon on the front page had him flipping through, interested. It was a journal, written by one of Maxim’s ancestors, a king who was also a Gryphon Knight. He wrote about having the terrace outside his private study converted into an aerie for his mount, a large gryphon he called Sapphire. The beast had been gold and white with ice blue eyes. Jaime looked up, realizing he was sitting in the very garden the ancient king spoke off, and sure enough, at the edge of the terrace was a peculiar flat area, constructed of oak and stone, a place for the gryphon to land and take off from. The terrace’s position on the palace allowed for safe landings, according to the king’s notes, as the winds were reduced, and there was a straight path directly over the royal forest to the mountains.
Jaime was so engrossed in the journal that he didn’t hear Maxim return until he was standing right in front of him. Jaime blinked, looking up. Maxim wore a cloak, which Jaime was thankful for, as it was cold out there, despite the protection from the wind. Maxim had an odd expression on his face, holding something in small brown leather pouch. Maxim looked unsure, nervous.
“Maxim?” Jaime asked, worried. He grew even more so when Maxim sucked in a deep breath, and knelt, going to one knee in the snow, his cloak billowing out behind him before it settled. Jaime let the tome fall open in his lap, an inkling of what was about to happen shocking his nerves, his thoughts halted.
Maxim looked down, fingers working to open the pouch. He pulled out a ring, a band of silver and gold carved into feathers, a single heavy stone of the deepest blue cradled by the exquisite workmanship. Jaime lifted his hands, stilling, frozen, when Maxim looked up at him, honey eyes vulnerable.
Jaime’s heart ached for the apprehension he could see in Maxim’s eyes, but soon his prince found his resolve.
“Jaime,” Maxim began, voice deep, rough with emotion. Jaime waited, patient, his heart bursting with love and wonder. Maxim smiled, and lifted the hand holding the ring, the sun catching on the stone which glimmered like the winter sky above them. “Jaime Buchanan, I love you with all of my being. You are a man of kindness and compassion, selfless and strong. You have scars, but you are all the more wondrous for surviving their making. You seek to help the people of this world, and I wish to protect them. The fates may have brought us together, but I believe our love will keep us forever entwined with each other. Will you accept my heart, my love, my hand in marriage? I will love you forever, and the greatest wish of my heart is to live this life by your side.”
Jaime forgot how to breathe, but his hands knew the answer he wanted to give. He cupped Maxim’s handsome face and leaned over, kissing his prince. Their lips were cold, but Jaime couldn’t feel anything but love. He pulled back just the tiniest amount, eye to eye with Maxim. He gave the only answer his heart and soul would accept.
“I love you. Yes.”
The ring, cold in the winter air, found its way onto the third finger of his left hand. It was too big, but then there was a brief hum of warmth, and the band shrunk just enough to be the perfect fit. Jaime smiled, delighted by the small magic, and then yelped when Maxim picked him up in a soul-tight hug.
Jaime laughed, hugging Maxim back, his prince lifting him off his feet. They kissed, humming in mutual delight, breathing each other in, content in that perfect moment in time. Maxim slowly lowered him to his feet, smiling down at him. There were tears on Maxim’ lashes, happy ones this time, and Jaime wiped them away with tender strokes across high cheekbones, adoration glowing from honey depths. “I do love you. I love you, Maxim. The sweet, kind man beneath the crown. You are a marvelous prince, I am sure. A fearsome warrior. But beneath it all, you are an amazing man, and I love you so very much. I love you more than I did yesterday, and tomorrow, I will love you more than I do today. My love for you will never end, always growing, always true and certain.”
More tears escaped, and Jaime spilled a few of his own. They hugged, Jaime resting his cheek on Maxim’s chest, right over his heart. Strong fingers carded through his hair, cradling his head. Jaime smiled, utterly content. They both looked out over the forest to the mountains, the skies clear and a deep, pure blue. Jaime sighed, hugging Maxim tighter, when Maxim stiffened.
“Jaime,” Maxim whispered, awe in his voice. Maxim let go with one arm and pointed to a mountain peak, and Jaime blinked, seeing nothing at first. Maxim dropped his arm, and Jaime wondered what it could be…
He saw it then. A speck of black in an otherwise clear sky, it dipped and glided, twirled in the currents. It steadily grew closer, until Jaime could make out details. No artist, no matter how gifted, could do the living miracle that soared over the slumbering forest justice. A flash of white wings, a long tail, and eyes that caught the sun. Great sweeping beats of the gryphon’s wings scooped the treacherous mountain air, and it soared, majestic against the backdrop of the gray stone and ice.
The gryphon danced in the winter air, strength and majesty in every beat of its wings and sweep of its feathers, in its thick mane, deep, muscular chest, and fierc
e beak. It was grace in motion, pure power, and absolute freedom.
Jaime and Maxim watched the gryphon, the great beast coming no closer than the edge of the grounds, though it danced in the sky as if it knew they watched. Maxim dropped a kiss in his hair, and Jaime smiled.
The End…for now.
Prince Maxim and Jaime will have a sequel later on in the series.
Next in the series is The River Prince, Realms of Love #2, set in Eistrea and the Hellebore Empire. A tale of a marriage of convenience, treachery, and a love that can change the course of destiny.
Coming 2018.
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The Wolfkin Saga
Wolves of Black Pine
Wolf of the Northern Star
The Beacon Hill Sorcerer
The Necromancer’s Dance
The Necromancer’s Dilemma
Realms of Love
The Solstice Prince
Standalone
Saving Silas
Writing as Revella Hawthorne
Bred For Love: The Prince’s Consort
Bred For Love: The King’s Command
Bred For Love: A Royal Rebellion
I’m a self-employed writer who stresses out about the silliest things, like whether or not I got my dog the best kind of snack and the fact my kindle battery tends to die when I’m at the best part in a book. I write mainly gay romance, erotica, and urban fantasy, with ocasional forays into contemporary and paranormal. I love a book heavy on plot and character evolution, and throw in some magic, and that’s perfection. My current series are: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer, Bred For Love (as Revella Hawthorne), and The Wolfkin Saga. My last two novels in the Beacon Hill Sorcerer won 3rd Place in the Gay Fantasy category for the 2016 Rainbow Awards. I live in New Orleans, where the personalities are big and loud and so are the bugs! New Orleans is rich in cultural history, and the flavor and music of the City is impossible to hide. Before that, I lived all over the United States: Tampa, Western Massachusetts, Indianapolis, and on and on…. I’m a nomad, and I’ve yet to find a place that calls to me strongly enough to become home. My faithful travel companions are my dog Micah, the numerous voices in my head who insist they all get put on paper, and the wind at my back.
Sarah Jo Chreene
Sarah Jo Chreene is a 23-year-old resident of Dallas, Texas, where she works part-time in an antique shop, which is one of her dreams jobs. Sarah Jo delights in meeting new people, interesting personalities, unique restoration projects, and the atmosphere of the shop inspires her muse. Her other passion, and one she devotes most of her time to, is her art. She sold her first piece at the age of 17, and hasn’t stopped since.
Her professional portfolio includes the self-titled album cover for the popular Texas band, Thieves of Sunrise, and will be working with the band again on their third album cover. Sarah Jo has worked with international best-selling romance author Riley Hart, doing a wide range of projects from promotional artwork to interior illustrations, and artwork for Hart’s alter-ego, Nyrae Dawn, in the YA novels The Weight of Destiny, and Turn the World Upside Down. Sarah Jo’s most recent collaboration is with urban fantasy author SJ Himes, creating the cover art, design, and interior illustrations for The Solstice Prince, the first novel in The Realms of Love epic fantasy romance series. Sarah Jo will also be creating the interior artwork for the remainder of the series, a project for 2018 and 2019.
Sarah Jo loves to work in a variety of mediums, including digital painting, Photoshop, charcoal, pens, pencils and freehand sketching and painting in a wide range of styles from anime, sketchy, realism, and cartoons. Sarah Jo ranks Norman Rockwell as a primary influence for his evocative use of emotion and his beautiful portrayals of humanity.
Between professional commissions, Sarah Jo delights in creating private artwork based on personal requests, from original characters, to portraits, and has brightened the walls of many patrons over the last eight years of selling her work.
For examples of her work, Sarah Jo is on Instagram, DeviantArt, and Facebook. She is accepting commissions for a wide variety of projects, and can be reached through social media and the following platforms:
Instagram
[email protected]
Facebook: facebook.com/sarahchreeneartist
dwightyoakamfan.deviantart.com
Booker’s Song by Hannah Walker
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Rillian Mascini is one of the most knowledgeable mages in the world. Spending his days and sometimes nights with his nose in a book has taught him magic and histories that few care to remember. He has a passion for dragons that pulls him to learn all he can about them, including their language. He is one of the last people left alive who can speak to the magnificent beasts.
Conwyn D’Aver is squad leader of the Dragon Riders. He will do whatever it takes to protect the dragons and people he has given his oath to serve. Nothing is more important, and when Neela, his personal dragon, is attacked, Conwyn is out for blood. He vows to find the threat and defeat it.
When an old spell book is found that gives a person the power to control all dragons, Conwyn will do anything he can to keep it from getting into the wrong hands, even if that means teaming up with the bookish Rillian to find a way to overcome the evil enemies who seek to gain the power.
Together with the dragons, the two men must find a way to protect everything they both love, but while doing so, they risk losing their own hearts to each other. As their enemies seek to destroy them, they learn that sometimes it takes love and trust to defeat the things we fear the most.
Feeding the Soul by Annabella Michaels
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Giovanni Romero had been dealt his fair share of heartbreak throughout his thirty years, including losing his beloved parents in a horrible car accident. After suffering yet another devastating loss, he decided to chase his dream of opening his own restaurant and was soon the proud owner of Romero’s, a hugely successful and critically acclaimed Italian restaurant, nestled in the heart of Chicago.
Knowing that one more blow to his heart could destroy him, Giovanni had built walls up around his heart to protect himself. He has created strict rules for himself about the men he sleeps with, which include never exchanging names and absolutely no repeat performances. That is until he meets a young man who he finds impossible to forget.
After spending the last few years travelling throughout Europe and The Mediterranean, working as an apprentice to some of the world’s top chefs, 23-year-old Carter Greene was finally moving back home. While he had enjoyed his studies, he couldn’t wait to reunite with his big, crazy, loving family; especially his twin brother, Carter. Most importantly, he hoped to finally begin his career working as the head chef for Chicago’s most prestigious Italian restaurant, Romero’s.
After a night of celebration with Carter, Caleb finds himself in a rare position, going home with a tall, dark and sexy stranger. Caleb had never had a one-night stand before, but there was something about the man that drew him in. Unfortunately, the man insisted they could only be together for one night.
Unable to get the intriguing young man off his mind, but resolved to let him go, Giovanni is shocked to find that Caleb has been hired as his new head chef. Working in such close proximity to each other, could he keep his carefully erect walls in place and protect his heart or would Caleb have the strength to tear those walls down, setting Giovanni free?
Letting Go by Morningstar Ashley
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Years ago, before tragedy struck, Alex made a child’s promise to always protect and care for his little sister, Evie. Then piece by piece, all the good in his life was taken away until Alex was left alone as guardian to his much younger sister. Suffering and loss scarred Alex, causing him to withdraw
from the world. Struggling with anxiety and trust issues, Alex attempts to help Evie heal from their shared traumatic past, but each day is harder than the last. To make matters worse, Alex’s best friend, Ben, is pushing him to get out of his rut, confronting him with the fact that what Alex thinks is contentment is just stagnation and fear. The last thing he needs is for an old acquaintance to reappear in his life, making him feel things he hadn’t dealt with in years.
The executive of the marketing department at graphic design firm Vivid, Kelley has his life together. While not perfect, he’s happy with his career and his three best friends. A chance encounter with Alex, the guy he was once attracted to, is icing on the cake. Fighting through Alex’s defenses to find the breathtaking man underneath will be hard, but Kelley is up to the challenge. Kelley believes that the things most worth fighting for never come easy.
To accept all that Kelley is offering means Alex must drop his barriers. Kelley will need to keep trying and prove that Alex can trust him, even when grief and anxiety try to pull him back.
Trusting Cade by Luna David
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At 38, Zavier “Cade” McCade has it all: a military career he can be proud of, a successful business, and a close-knit group of family and friends. A former Army Special Forces Captain, Cade leaves the military to create Custos Securities, a burgeoning protection agency that provides unparalleled security for both civilians and corporations across the U.S.