Eden's Mark (22 page)

             
I beamed brightly at my vampire. I had a lot to live up to and my destiny was no longer my own. I had an obligation to these people and this land. I would do whatever it took to see them have peace and unity.

             
“I have one last word of advice for the two of you. These are periled times. The road ahead is only going to get rougher. Remember the feeling you have at this moment and how you would give everything for one another, and you will make it. I have faith in the two of you. Now, Gregor, kiss this young lady.”

             
“With pleasure.” His eyes bore into mine. The love I felt for this man was stronger and deeper than I could ever have hoped to find. Gregor pulled me up in his arms and kissed me deeply. I fell into his kiss, leaving the crowd of people behind. This one moment was ours to revel in.

             
“The happy couple!”  Amend shouted at the crowd, who set off in singing and dancing.

             
The rest of the night was a blur consisting of various dishes to eat and blessings being given upon us as we sat in the middle of the ceremonial circle. A few hours before dawn, we slipped away, after thanking everyone for the wonderful evening.

             
“So Mrs. Knightly, where would you like to go?” His sultry gaze left me breathless.

             
“Our meadow. Take me home”

             
“As my lady requests.” We sped off into the night towards the one place we could be just us. My heart was so full from all the love this man brought out in me. I would give my life for him, and soon we would have a new life to protect. No matter what was coming our way, I would forever cherish this moment.

Afterwards

             
Circenn carried her blistered body into her chambers, anger boiling inside her. “I will have Eden on my side, no matter what it costs me.” She stripped naked allowing the cold air to cool her wounds. “Darkness hear me, your humble servant is weak and broken, heal me so that I may do your work.”

             
Slick black vapors surrounded Circenn, enveloping her. Relief coursed through her, the wounds healing, leaving new skin behind. Perfect manicured fingers caressed the skin and Circenn’s lips curled, grinning.

             
“Thank you for hearing me, I offer you my life’s blood in sacrifice for your help.” A medium blade lay on a jeweled table next to her. She drew the silver dagger across her palm in a small deep line. Holding her fist above the black smoke, Circenn dripped blood into the tendrils. Darkness materialized before her, the body made up of the vapor. A black hand drew her palm to its mouth, closing her wound.

             
“My lady.” The voice was deep, seductive, Circenn went weak.

             
“How long until you have what I seek?” The voice demanded his answer.

             
“The child is most formidable. It is going to take some ingenuity to bring her our way. I assure you, I will turn her.” Circenn feared Darkness and loved it at the same time.

             
“Let us hope you can deliver, Circenn.”

             
“Why is this young girl so important? I am just as powerful, I have the rule of Ellethny right now. What can she possibly do for you that I cannot?” Seductively she brushed up against the vaporous figure.

             
“Do not test me, Circenn. I can reclaim the power I have given you. Bring the child to me and you will have your reward.” Darkness disappeared.

             
Exasperated, she donned a black velvet gown.

             
A knock broke the silence. “Madame, the informant is here.”

             
“Take me to the whelp.” She left her room following the guard down the hallway. White double doors opened to an elegant room where talks took place. At the side of the rich brown table sat a small woman.

             
“So, you have information that will help me do you? I hope it is worth my time.” Her cold smile sent chills down the spine of the woman.

             
“What I have to tell you will benefit you greatly. I know how you can get Eden to do what you want.” The voice was soft and shaky.

             
“Do you now? I have her parents, what else do I need?”

             
“Her husband, Gregor Knightly.”

             
“She is mated already? Well now, how interesting. Whom do I thank for this juicy bit of information?” Circenn sat across from the woman staring her down with an icy glare.

             
“My name is Katsu.”

Other Solstice Shadows Titles

A Pride of Lions

By

Mark Iles

             
When Selena Dillon is caught in an assassination attempt on her planet’s ruler, she finds herself sentenced to twenty-five years servitude in the most feared military force, the Penal Regiments. Much to her surprise she enjoys the harsh military life and is quickly selected for officer training.

             
But something’s wrong, worlds are falling silent. There’s no cry for help and no warning, just a sudden eerie silence. When a flotilla of ships is despatched to investigate they exit hyperspace to find themselves facing a massive alien armada. Outnumbered and outgunned the flotilla fight a rearguard action, allowing one of their number to slip away and warn mankind.

             
As worlds fall in battle, and mankind’s fleets are decimated, Selena is selected to lead a team of the Penal Regiment’s most battle-hardened veterans, in a last ditch attempt to destroy the aliens’ home world. If she fails mankind is doomed. Little does Selena know that one of her crew is a psychopathic killer and another is the husband of his victim.

             
Can she hold her team together, get them to their target and succeed in the attack? Selena knows that if she fails then there will be nothing at all left to go home to.

Breathless

By

S.D. Grimm

Eighteen year old Claire Summers has a rare gift she must keep secret, she's a Breather. When she touches an object someone else has touched, she sees that person’s memories. When she stumbles across a memory of her friend in danger, she'll do anything to help rescue him. The problem is, her secret will be revealed. If the wrong people find out about her ability, they’ll hunt her, because Breathers are powerful weapons.

Waking Up Dead

By

Margo Bond Collins

When Callie Taylor died, she expected to go to heaven—or maybe hell. Instead, when she was murdered in Dallas by some jerk with a knife and a bad-mommy complex, she went to Alabama. Now she’s seen another murder, and she can’t just let it go; she must find a way to make sure the police figure out who really killed Molly McClatchy before an innocent man goes to prison, all the while trying to determine how and why she woke up dea
d in Alabama.
P  imperative that she finisheXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX