Blooming Desire: An Extraordinary Spring Romance Collection

by S. J. Sanders

  The pixie takes her pouch and douses herself with a handful of the dust, her size instantly expanding as her light increases and flares. She is not as big as the troll, not even half her height, but she is able to communicate and that is what matters. She bows to the queen and smiles.

  I am unable to follow the speech, as deep and loud as it is to my ears, though I can hear it and the sounds the queen makes are certainly ones of pleasure. Box after box is brought forth, their size increased, and the fine products are taken out by the queen’s attendants for inspection. Many pixies smile and congratulate Fini when the queen trills out happily and selects the gown that she and Orenda labored over, but she frowns, refusing to respond other than to nod her thanks.

  The female speaking for our colony continues to converse pleasantly, never once looking toward us or indicating my hive in any fashion, and my heart sinks. She isn’t going to ask her. Her focus is solely on trade. I drop my head, glaring at my boots when the door swings open. A tall male strides in, followed closely by a female. I blink in surprise. Though she has different coloration than our queen, the species is recognizably human. My wings hum with excitement and I start forward before Orel grabs ahold of me. I seethe and attempt to wrestle out of his grip, but my brother has more muscle mass and restrains me with little effort. A very young troll follows close behind her, his eyes widen with open curiosity as he looks us.

  “That is the zaabi who accosted us,” Orel bites out, his blue wings buzzing so loud that they almost seem to make sharp snapping sounds. I cock my head at the youngling.

  “Orel, I doubt it is more than a handful of years in growth. Accosted is a harsh term to use for younglings,” I say quietly.

  “That youngling plucked our mate from the water and carried her away. If I were able, I would demand that he produce her immediately if I thought it would gain any result,” my brother growls with the first sign of fire in his eyes that I’ve seen since he returned without Orenda.

  The queen smiles at the tall male and embraces him. Some relation, perhaps? I quizzed Orenda at length about human social customs in our spare time but now I wish I knew more of trolls. The affection of blood-kin seems to be present, however. Stepping back, he nudges his female forward. Her hands are cupped in front of her and she leans forward to speak to the queen. The queen looks down in her hands, and her eyes widen in surprise.

  As if awakening, I can feel our queen’s presence flare through our mate bond.

  She is there! I break free from my brothers and fly as quick as possible. I see the human turn and lean over to a chair as if setting something on it, her body blocking my view. The queen raises her hands and power cracks over her fingertips.

  My eyes widen in horror. I’ve heard of the sorcery that the trolls are capable of, especially the power of the troll queen. I fling myself forward in the air in desperation, but it is too late. The power spirals out and surrounds my mate in a glowing cocoon.

  “Nooooo!” I roar in anguish as I watch my female rapidly grow within the light.

  18

  Orenda

  One minute the trolls are speaking with Kate and the next the queen is weaving her magic on me. Everything within me screams to run but there’s no escaping it any more than there was a chance to escape the vortex that brought me here.

  I push myself to my feet on the thick padded seat of the chair, preparing to leap off when it ensnares me. The weight of the magic is so intense that I sink down and curl into myself, burning with the sensations of pulling and ripping as I began to grow, filling the seat. It is not until my legs drop free, my feet hitting the floor, that I realize I’m full-sized again. Aghast, I stare down at myself, my eyes blurring with tears.

  It is only then that I notice the number of pixies crowded in the room behind a rather large Anali. The pixie gasps, her hands clutched to her chest as she stares at me. She whispers my name, but my eyes leave her, searching among the crowd the presence of my hive, who I feel slowly dimming in my mind, the link withering. My entire being protests.

  At the edge of the gathering, I see them, their lights slowly dimming as they stare at me sadly. My face crumples, tears flowing down my cheeks. The males glance at each other and break away from the gathering though Anali tries to protest, their lights growing fainter as they approach.

  I turn to Kate, betrayal rocking through me. “Why?” I weep. “Why would you let her transform me?”

  Kate stills, taken aback, her eyes widening as she watches me reach out to my mates as they drop lightly into my hands. “I… I don’t understand,” she murmurs in confusion. “I thought you needed help.”

  “I did—to get home to my hive. Not to return to this size!”

  Another tear rolls down my cheek and I feel the lightest touch on my face. I turn and look. Gwin has risen from my palm, hovering in the air beside my head as his hand swipe at the tear. Though his features are now small, he smiles at me, his dull light flashing gently as I feel his love through the remnants of our bond.

  I look over at the troll queen watching, her own eyes glassy with tears as she looks from me to my males.

  “I was brought here by mistake, by some magic that I found, but I belong with them,” I say quietly to her.”

  “Are you sure you belong with them? You are not naturally made for their race.”

  “She is one of us,” Anali says firmly, stepping forward, her pale pink wings stirring the air around her with her movement. She looks to me, her eyes softening. “I did not think there was any hope of finding you,” she murmurs. “I should have known that your hive would find you again when they waited so long to find you the first time.” With a gentle smile, she faces the queen and inclines her head. “Great Queen, Orenda may not have been designed at birth as a pixie, but her name speaks of our inherent nature. She is as much a part of our magic as any pixie and we count her among our own. Her magic designed your dress. I implore you to return her to us.”

  The queen looks at my thoughtfully and nod in affirmation. “I am pixie as far as I’m concerned. This time, I choose it.”

  Her lips curve with delight and she chuckles. “I do so adore a great love story. Very well Orenda, magic born one, beloved of pixies, you have your wish. Besides, I cannot wait to see what you make for me next year!” She winks at me and I grin. Turning to Kate, I whisper my thanks for all that she has done just before the magic coils around me once more.

  Strangely, shrinking doesn’t hurt. It’s like I was always meant to be this way. When the light dies away, I barely have time to draw in a breath when I feel the impact of a large body colliding with my own. Shrieking with laughter, I pull back and grin as Dazi lifts me into the air and nuzzles me. The gathering converges around us, the hands of females I’d seen in passing as I worked with Fini brushing me in welcome as my hive passes me around between them.

  When they finally let me up for air, I find Fini standing before me, tears streaming down her face as she looks at me uncertainly. I open my arms, and she rushed forward, lifting me off my feet. She captures me in a bone-crushing, breath-defying embrace before setting me down again.

  “Don’t you ever do that to me again!” she scolds, her pale skin flushed with gold. “I cannot bear seeing your hive mope around and Shavish act so crazy,” she says with a playful smirk.

  I laugh and shake my head, letting her know that she isn’t fooling me at all with her act. “I’ll be sure to avoid any repeat performances.”

  “Be sure that you do,” Shavish growls, his body pressing insistently against mine. “I never wish to know such terror again. Orel told us of your decision. There is no revoking it. You are ours.”

  “Damn, you’re bossy,” I murmur, my grin widening.

  “I have missed you,” Dazi whispers from my side as he leans forward, the tip of his nose brushing my cheek as his antenna slide over my hair. “My study is lonely, and my world is empty without you.”

  “Oh, Dazi,” I murmur as I lift my hand to brush the soft skin of his
jaw. “I couldn’t imagine the rest of my life without you. Without any of you,” I amend as I look over my hive, love filling my heart with its comforting weight that somehow makes me feel as if I can fly.

  Gwin pushes his way forward, his hand brushing my cheek where tear tracks still dampen it. “You will never need to cry again, little one. I would follow you anywhere. You are just as beautiful to me as a zaabi as you are now. You will always have me.”

  “And I will never let go of you again,” Orel growls as he sweeps me up possessively in his arms. Bowing to Anali, who grins and returns the gesture, he lifts me into his arms and flies us out of the room. I tuck my head against his chest, happiness suffusing me as I hear the quick pursuit of the rest of our hive behind us.

  “What about the gathering?” I whisper into his chest.

  “Your dress was chosen. Your part is done. Let the others conclude the arrangements,” he snorts. “I refuse to set you down again unless it is to lay you beneath me safely within our nest.

  “Sounds good to me,” I whisper, snuggling into his embrace.

  My smile widens as I watched the happy flicker of my mates bounce all around us as they dive through the air.

  True to Orel’s word, he did not put me down until we were within our bedroom, the same room I hadn’t set foot in since the mating. I can taste their pheromones swirling around me in the air and enclose me, our beings melding through the bond as we find bliss with each other once more, and then again several more times, before the sun rises to greet a new day.

  Epilogue

  100 years later

  Orenda

  I sit on the edge of a lily pad, kick my feet in the water as my hive circles around me. Although they insist that they will discover how to get a pair of wings for me, I am happy with my life just as it is.

  Would it be great to fly, sure? But after so many years together, my own life blessedly extended through our mate bond, I have long since decided that I am perfectly okay being carried everywhere by my hive. They don’t mind carrying me but do not like me leaving the nest. They worry about how vulnerable I am, but they have at least become a bit less rigid about it over time. My lack of wings hasn’t been too great a barrier, though it’s had its challenges.

  There are times, however, that I wish…

  The nightbloom lilies are open, and my mates play with the youngest of our brood. We waited fifty years before we had our first baby. Now we have three grown children, two of which are happily mated and the third preparing for their mating flight tomorrow. Our youngest three cling to their fathers, their tiny wings flapping as they are carried through the air around me. The baby has just turned six and he laughs as he clings to Shavish, his pale blue wings held out stiffly from his body to catch the wind. Every now and then, his body lifts up to hover just above his father for a few minutes before flattening against Shavish once more.

  Usually, we practice flying at home with the little ones, but they love our nights over the pond. These moments make me wish I could join them instead of waiting below. At least I’ve chosen the brightest lily to enjoy the night. Its magic drifts in the air around me, making it feel like the most special spot in the world.

  Orel lands beside me and leans forward to brush his lips against my temple. “Don’t be morose, my light. I see the way you are watching everyone. You know I adore you exactly as you are.”

  My lips curve and I wink at him. “And that’s why you are my favorite.”

  My beautiful blue male chuckles and shakes his head. “Now you are speaking untruths. We all know Dazi is your favorite for all the time you willingly spend in that tomb he calls his study.”

  I snort out a laugh and watch him fondly as he hops into the air. He blows a kiss to me as he sails up to join our family. Leaning back against the lily, I look up in the sky and notice a falling star streak through the tiny patch of bare sky between the branches before disappearing.

  “I wish,” I murmur as I imagine myself with glorious wings to join them. My skin glitters from the dust of my mates’ wings, shimmering silver, blue, green, and red. It’s not the same as having a pixie’s fiery glow, but it makes me feel a little better.

  I stroke one hand through the glittery trail. I see it for what it is: an expression of my hives love. With that love, I have all the wings I need. I have them.

  Other Works by S.J. Sanders

  The Mate Index

  First Contact

  The VaDorok

  Hearts of Indesh (Valentine Novella)

  The Edoka’s Destiny

  The Vori’s Mate

  Eliza’s Miracle (Novella)

  A Kiss on Kaidava

  The Vori’s Secret

  A Mate for Oigr (Halloween Novella)

  Heart of the Agraak

  A Gift for Medif

  The Arobi’s Queen (coming soon)

  Monsterly Yours

  The Orc Wife

  The Troll Bride

  The Accidental Werewolf’s Mate

  Sci-Fi Fairytales

  Sci-Fi Fairytales

  Red: A Dystopian World Alien Romance

  Ragoru Beginnings Romance

  White: Emala’s Story

  Huntress

  Dark Spirits

  Havoc of Souls

  The Mirror (also part of Mischief Matchmakers)

  Forest of Spirits (coming soon)

  Shadowed Dreams Erotica

  The Lantern

  Serpent of the Abyss

  About the Author

  S.J. Sanders is a writer of Science Fiction and Fantasy Romance. With a love of all things alien and monster she is fascinated with concepts of far off worlds, as well as the lore and legends of various cultures. When not writing, she loves reading, sculpting, painting and travel (especially to exotic destinations). Although born and raised in Alaska, she currently as a resident of Florida with her family, her maine coon, Bella, and pet bearded dragon, Lex.

  Readers can follow her on Facebook

  https://www.facebook.com/authorsjsanders

  Or join her Facebook group S.J. Sanders Unusual Playhouse

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/361374411254067/

  Newsletter:

  https://mailchi.mp/7144ec4ca0e4/sjsandersromance

  Website:

  https://sjsandersromance.wordpress.com/

  His Forbidden Mate

  Julie L. Vance

  Blurb

  His Forbidden Mate

  Julie L. Vance

  When Aella finds out her sister is pregnant, and she likely won't be a part of the twins' lives, everything seems to be falling apart around her. Upset and alone when she crashes into Loch Ness, she thinks her life is surely over. That is until she sees beautiful bright blue hands pulling her out and into a pair of serpentine arms.

  General Amon needs a break. Better yet, he needs a vacation. The Loch is the perfect place to take a breather when tensions are high. He didn't expect to find a human drowning. He also didn't expect to find his ex-lover is his mate. Especially when he feels drawn to the little human he saved.

  Dedications:

  To Hayley Benitez and S. J. Sanders.

  AND

  To all the wonderful women in my family.

  Pronunciation Guide:

  Aella – Eye-elle-uh

  Anthea – An-thee-uh

  Amon – Ay-mun

  Calliope – Kuh-lie-o-pee

  1

  Amon

  “Sir.”

  General Amon lifted his head from reading the report in front of him, his brow ridges lowering and his eyes narrowing dangerously at the soldier’s interruption; his forked tongue flicked rapidly between his lips, sampling the air.

  The young male Oraed, an avian-like being with bright blue plumage and a crown of red feathers upon his chest and crest, shrank before the General, his wings twitching restlessly. A soft squawk erupted from the Oraed’s beak.

  Amon’s eyes narrowed further.

  What a fool, he thought. A we
akling like him would become easy prey for one of my kind.

  A shame I can’t eat him.

  This particular Oraed happened to be the younger sibling of the female Oraed ambassador to the President of the United Nations of Earth. He could not eat the weaker male – no matter how much he irritated him.

  “Yes, what is it, soldier?” he rumbled.

  “Lady Calliope wishes to speak with you, sir.”

  Amon frowned, the loose coils upon which he sat beginning to tighten at the mention of the beautiful female – but it was not lust that hummed through his veins; it was annoyance.

  “You do realize, soldier, that you are wasting my time with this information, correct?” For a moment, Amon took sadistic pleasure in causing the young male Oraed to sputter and flutter his wings in fear. The claws on his fingertips tapped against the surface of his desk impatiently. “Why did you not simply patch Lady Calliope through to my private line?”

  “But s-sir—”

  “What is it, soldier?” Amon snarled. His lips drew back and he bared his fangs at the smaller male, his coils writhing with his mounting agitation.