Tales of Enchantment 1: The Question of Royalty

by Kai Andersen

  Smiling, Serena turned back to the royal monarchs. All of them stood up from their thrones and embraced the soon-to-be-wed pair. The King of Mithirien then handed Frederick a ring.

  Turning to Serena, he slid the ring solemnly onto her finger as he said the words that he’d agonized over the entire three months of preparation, words that conveyed the thoughts and feelings of his heart, “With this ring, I, Prince Frederick of Mithirien, take you, Princess Serena of Lazvinium, as my wife, my queen, the mother of our children, and my companion on the long journey ahead. I cannot promise that we will not have sorrow or anguish, hardships or trials in the life ahead of us. But what I promise is this: With sorrow, there will be joy. With anguish, there will be gladness. With hardships, there will be a helping hand. With trials, there will be hope. As long as I have breath in me, I will always be by your side.”

  He then took down the tiara that she was wearing, and crowned her with the tiara of the Crown Princess of Mithirien.

  Eyes misting, Serena took a ring from her father, the King of Lazvinium, and sliding the ring onto Frederick’s finger, she said, “With this ring, I, Princess Serena of Lazvinium, take you, Prince Frederick of Mithirien, as my husband, my king, the father of our children, and my companion on the long journey ahead. I don’t ask for a lifetime of roses, but just you, all that you are and were and will be. Wherever you are, wherever you go, there I will be.”

  After the ceremony, the Chief Herald sounded the notes for merrymaking, and the guests swarmed up to the newlyweds and offered their congratulations and best wishes. They also partook of the excellent meal that the royal cook had prepared for the celebration.

  Heralds all over the land carried the proclamation that the crown prince has taken a new bride, who has been crowned the crown princess this day. All throughout the land, the sounds of cheering and feasting were heard. In honor of the wedding, all villages in the kingdom were going to hold celebration feasts that were to last for twelve days and twelve nights. Later that night, fireworks lit up the sky as part of the merrymaking.

  Back at the castle, the little girl dared not move from her place, her hands held out stiffly from her body. She breathed a sigh of relief when her big sister finally retrieved the pillow from her. She ran off immediately to play with her newfound friends.

  Frederick was about to lead Serena into the castle when she stopped in her tracks. “Oh, look, there’s Giselda, and she’s talking with someone.” She squinted. “I don’t recognize him.”

  Frederick looked in the same direction. “That’s Prince Michael of Ermont.”

  “Maybe she’s finally found her prince.”

  “Maybe.” Serena could hear the lack of conviction in his voice. He tugged at her hand. “C’mon.”

  He led her through brightly lit hallways and elegant rooms. She spied a circular stairs running to the upper floors. “Is that where our rooms are?”

  “Shame on you!” Frederick scolded her, but his eyes were twinkling. “Is that the way for a crown princess to talk?”

  “Yes.” Mischief glinted in her own green ones. “When she’s talking to her crown prince.”

  “As long as you remember that.” He moved to kiss her, but she stopped him.

  “Stop that! We might spill this.” She eyed the pillow in her hand meaningfully.

  “All right.” He led the way to the castle museum. “Do we really need to do this?”

  “Yes.” The mischievous smile was still in place. “Think of the stories to tell our grandchildren, maybe even our great-grandchildren.”

  “Yes. Think of them wondering, ‘Did it really happen ...?’”

  “Yes.” Her eyes and voice held a dreamy expression. “Think of how much fun they could have --”

  He suddenly grabbed her. The pillow was balanced precariously on one of her hands. “As much fun as we had?” His lips moved close to hers.

  “Yes.” She moaned as his lips met hers in a melting kiss, tender and thorough. “Maybe more.”

  The pillow fell from her hand to the floor. It flopped to the floor, dislodging the tiny object nestled in the center. The object rolled a few inches and then stopped.

  It was a pea.

  Kai Andersen

  Kai has always loved books. For as long as she can remember, she has been fascinated by stories. The humdrum of her life forced her to seek the excitement that could be found in books. As Belle said in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, "far off places, daring swordfights, magic spells, a prince in disguise..." What can top that?

  Her real life was pretty boring until... until... that day in June 2004 (of course I remember, it's a momentous day in my life!), when one of Loose Id's editors contacted her for her full mss. It wasn't even an acceptance, but already her heart was bursting with joy.

  So these days, she still tries to trick the world into thinking that she's a tough, no-nonsense career woman, her boss however is not fooled. He sees through the conservative clothes to the passionate woman beneath and decides to make her his.

  At least, that's her latest favorite fantasy. ;) It's so much more fulfilling than real life, don't you think?

  You can find Kai Andersen on the Web at www.kai-andersen.com, or email her at author@kai-andersen.com.

  * * * * *

  Read on for a tantalizing glimpse of

  After the Flood 1: Blood and Magic

  by Lena Austin

  Available Now from Loose Id

  After the Flood 1: Blood and Magic

  Close your eyes, Kella, and I'll make a light. It was very comforting to feel Tanne's warm body beneath her and hear his voice.

  She did as instructed and shut her eyes tightly. Even through her eyelids, she saw the light flare. When she'd blinked away the brightness, a blue ball glowed near the ceiling of an enormous cavern with walls that sparkled.

  Tanne stepped a few paces out of the water and stood near a rock so large it would provide an easy platform to get off his back. If only she could move her stiff legs! Kella took the hint, and balanced herself on the stirruped foot nearest the rock.

  Are you stiff and sore? Will you permit me to help? Tanne turned his head until he looked at her with one blue eye. His horn remained pointed safely away from her. It looked long and sharp, and glinted like a silver sword.

  Her attempt to move her leg failed, and Kella groaned. “Yes, please!” Pleasant warmth moved from her back, caressed her buttocks, and moved slowly down both legs until she sighed in relief. “Oh, thank you! Much better!”

  You're most welcome. Move slowly, still. Swing your leg over and touch the rock with that foot first. Then free your foot from the stirrup.

  His voice turned contrite in her head. I'm very sorry. I didn't think about the fact you probably haven't done a lot of riding in your life.

  Kella freed herself from the saddle and jumped down from the rock. “No, I'm afraid not. I got to ride an old farmer's donkey once when I was little, but that's all.”

  She walked under Tanne's horn and moved to the other side of his body. Tugging on the string's knot, she managed to free her bedroll and little pack. “How do I remove this other stuff from you so you can change?” She hefted her things over to a sandy spot a few feet from the boulder and close to one of the cavern walls.

  “No need.” Tanne's voice now came to her ears, instead of inside her head. Kella dropped her bundle in surprise, and whirled around. Tanne was now in his human form, and she tried not to drool on her boots. His shirt was more open than on previous occasions. “I simply made them go away when I transformed.”

  His boots crunched on the sand as he joined her. “Shall I make a fire?”

  She swallowed the quip that he caused one in her merely by existing, and looked around for firewood. “I'll go outside to gather wood,” she offered. The cool night air might chill the warmth in her belly sufficiently to allow her to think.

  Shaking his head and grinning, Tanne gestured to the center of the sand circle. A small fire appeared out of thin air and
burned cheerfully.

  “Lord and Lady!” Kella exclaimed, and knelt near the bright flames. “It burns without fuel!” She put her palms out and felt the heat. “It's the same as a real fire!”

  Tanne knelt nearby, but a respectful distance away from her person, much to her regret. “It's called a mage fire, and it's often the first magic taught. You could do this just as easily, I have no doubt.”

  “Is this something I could do with my little ball?” Kella asked carefully.

  “Exactly. You can make many things with your ball. Care to try?” Tanne folded his long legs into the same seated position the tailor of her village used for needle sewing.

  After consideration, Kella remained kneeling. She put out her hand, palm up, and concentrated on making the green ball as she had earlier. It appeared in her palm, firmer than before. “Practice does help, doesn't it?” She laughed.

  “Assuredly! Very good.” His voice, full of praise, warmed her much more than the fire. “I'd suggest putting it down on the sand. The fire might be a bit hot for your hand.”

  “You are so confident in me!” she teased, before placing her ball in the sand. Her belly rumbled, but she promised it a meat bar from her pack later. There were more important things to do than eat. This was her future, she hoped, to be taught by Tanne. She forced herself to not tremble, using the rituals of the temple.

  “Yes, I am.” He paused. “See the ball growing warm, and changing into flames. That's the trick, to visualize it changing.” The encouragement in his tone calmed her nerves once again.

  Kella tried to concentrate on imagining the ball glowing, warming, and turning to flames. But her traitorous belly rumbled again, demanding food. Her concentration wavered for a moment, and she saw a meat bar where there should be flames. The ball changed into a meat bar!

  Kella put her face in her hands and groaned. “I'm sorry! I'm sorry!” She was so embarrassed at her failure, she longed for the night to swallow her.

  Silence, and then she heard a smothered chuckle. “I take it you're hungry?” The humor in his tone told her he was laughing at her.

  As if in answer to his question, her stomach rumbled audibly.

  “Congratulations, Kella. You passed my test. You made something practical out of a ball of energy.” A warm hand pried one of her hands away from her face and pressed the meat bar into it. “Why don't you eat your creation while we celebrate?”

  The hand covering her red face fell away in shock, and she found herself nose-to-nose with Tanne. His blue eyes twinkled.

  “I did? I did!” Kella launched herself into his arms, forgetful of everything in her joy. “Oh, thank you!”

  There was a moment of stillness while she continued to look deeply into those wondrous blue eyes. He closed his eyes and shuddered once. Before she could even blink, his lips came down hard on her surprised mouth.

  She had not thought her joy could be increased, until that moment. One arm became trapped when his arms clamped around her, holding her still. Her free hand dropped the meat bar and moved up to tentatively touch, then tangle in, his silver hair. This was a new hunger, which overrode all others. More than being in heat, even. Dimly, the thought came that this was what all females craved and fought for. Then, no thoughts were possible.

  One of his arms released her, but escape was the last thing on her mind. Her lips had parted in her surprise, and his tongue slipped easily inside to dance with hers.

  A tug on her bodice laces told her his plans, but she kept her eyes closed to relish the kiss and surrender to the hot sensations coursing through her. This was the hunger of being in heat, doubled, and she welcomed the feeling of warmth and moisture between her legs. For once, the aching need would be satisfied to the fullest. She could have shrieked with joy.

  Tanne's mind touched hers, tentatively, and she felt his need, as well. He throbbed with the same desire she felt, delighting her more. When his hand freed her breast from the confines of her bodice and cupped it gently, she reveled in his joy at the softness. Two fingers gently tweaked a nipple, and she echoed that pleasurable sensation back to him even as she felt her nipple harden.

  The scent of an aroused male assailed her nostrils, and she inhaled deeply to savor it.

  You smell wonderful yourself, Tanne mind-spoke.

  He broke the kiss, and she ventured to open her eyes. His eyes were half-shut, and he trembled with an emotion she could not understand.

  Gently, he pushed her back on the sand. “Forgive me, I must taste.” His voice was so soft and low she barely heard it.

  Without conscious decision on her part, her arms moved until her hands clasped each other above her head. “Take what you need, Tanne. I'm willing, for you,” she whispered breathlessly. She lay splayed out on the sand and closed her eyes -- not in fear, but in anticipation of more delights.

  Tanne's mouth closed over her exposed breast, and his tongue rasped her nipple. With the renewed contact came the waves of his hunger for her breast, and she cried out softly, giving that yearning back to him. One of her hands dug deeply into his hair, wordlessly begging him never to stop.

  The new sensation of tender suckling at her nipple drove her nearly insane with desire. Her other breast was freed and played with, and the nipple teased, until she thought she lived for the responses of her body and the cravings they induced.

  Tanne released the nipple from his attentions, scraping it gently with his teeth. He rolled gracefully beside her to attack the other breast. His rough breathing mingled with her soft pants. One of his legs was thrown over hers, and she felt the hardness of him against her thigh.

  Her skirts, already around her thighs from her lessons, now moved. What new sensation was coming? Would it ease the persistent wet ache between her legs? Tanne's hand crept along her thigh nearest him, and found the very center of her heated need.

  A shout of pleasure mixed with more craving than she'd ever felt bounced off the ceiling of the cavern and echoed her voice back to her. “Oh, please! Oh, please!” she cried, begging for what she had only heard whispered rumors about. Were they true? Would it really hurt? She didn't care. The want edged closer to pain than she thought possible.

  Tanne's desire wrapped her own, and the two became one. His ache was as great as hers, but he had the presence of mind to break away from her pulsing nipple, to whisper in her mind and ear, “Are you sure?”

  Wildly, Kella begged. “I don't know what I ask for certain, but I beg for it.” She panted for a moment. “If it is true, I must have it. Please, please, take me there.”

  Tanne groaned, and muttered, “I must be gentle. I must!” His blue eyes closed, briefly, and Kella could feel him fight for self-control. “A kiss, then…a kiss while I master myself.”

  The revelation that a gentle Unicorn could be so feral made Kella tremble with longing. “A kiss, then,” she begged.

  Tanne attacked her mouth with a ferocity that matched her own predatory hunger, and their minds joined once more.

  It was a rude shock to hear another voice shout, Tanne! echoing in both their minds. Violently, they broke apart and looked around for the source of the voice, before Tanne muttered, “Mind-call,” and looked off into the distance, his breath rasping harshly.

  * * * * *

  What people are saying about the writing of Lena Austin

  After the Flood 1: Blood and Magic

  Kella is a plucky heroine whose enthusiasm and humor shine through and complement the more sedate unicorn stallion’s deep mysticism and magnetic allure. These two have to overcome their own bias and upbringing as well as other prejudices when they fall in love. Their passion is spectacular, both intense and tender at times… I will watch for more stories featuring the magical beings and world of Unicorn Valley.

  -- Patrice, The Romance Studio

  Blood and Magic is an excellent story! Ms. Austin has created an interesting tale with multidimensional characters, and a fantasy world that left me enthralled from the first page. I loved getting t
o know Kella and Tanne’s magic powers and dynamic personalities. Ms. Austin is an amazing story teller. Those who are fans of hot romance and fantasy plots will find this one a winner.

  -- J.B. DuBose, Just Erotic Romance Reviews