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I Got 5 Hearts

Updates!!!

 Well, as we all know I haven't been feeling up to par lately... but I'm slowly starting to come around. 

Good news: I've woken up headache free... Bad news: It feels like I just rubbed chilli powder or pepper in my right eye and it stinging like a bitch... even after flushing the damn thing out...it's an omen to never clean the kitchen again - LOL.

Okay, at the moment I'm working up some submissions for Rooster & Pig Publishing... this guy on the right is inspiration for Joel Roxby - Fey Prince of sorts. he is one of the lead characters in book one: Claiming Roxby's Heart. From my series SPAM Inc.

The weird part for me is writing a synopsis for a story I haven't as yet written - as I'm not a plotter/planner - I just write whatever falls out of my head when I sit in front of the computer each day.

Harlin Edwards - human, is the other main character in this particular story line... 

Today I need to change the formatting to fit R&P submissions guidelines. To be totally honest it would be a hell of a lot easier if all publishers used the same formatting for submissions.

Other than that, they have also asked to see something on the following:

The Diamond Rose (series).
Taking Chances (series).
In the shadow of the Dragon (single story).

Sentinels Of Varnuse: When The Walls Come Tumbling Down #6.

#6.

Mylo Kornel stood in fear hiding in the shadows and watching as the king comforted his consort. Truthfully he didn’t understand what was so wrong with the two men loving each other—at least they were loving somebody. He was sorry for his part in what was happening.  He should never have agreed to put the damn plant in the bedchamber of the king and his consort.

He wasn’t quite sure what the significance was of the plant. At the time he’d wondered why the giver wanted to remain anonymous. The plant itself was beautiful. Why would something of such beauty put such fear in King Quinlan? Scratching the side of his face he wondered how he was going to explain his part in this whole mess. Even though he didn’t know who the original sender was, he could tell them who paid him to place the plant where he had. Mylo jumped when Cleric Saskia suddenly appeared beside him.

“You look troubled,” Saskia’s voice washed over Mylo in a way which soothed him. Being a cleric Saskia’s gift must be the ability to soothe the soul. It was deep and rich and felt like a blanket of warmth wrapped around him.

Mylo studied the cleric. The man’s dark blue eyes drew him in. their intenseness made him want to confide everything inside of him. Mylo’s gaze dropped to the cleric’s soft looking lips, and then he began to speak. “It was me. I put the plant in the king’s room.”

“Now why would you do that?” Saskia asked softly, one eyebrow rose in apparent curiosity.

Mylo shrugged, “I was paid to. I don’t see what the big fuss is. So what if someone wanted to give the king’s consort a pretty gift?”

Cleric Saskia’s face held a sad quality or so Mylo thought. “You don’t know the meaning of such a gift, do you?”

“No,” Mylo shook his head.

“Such a gift is an ill omen. They say to be given this particular gift means you’ve been warned a bounty has been placed upon your head.”

“Oh shyte,” Mylo groaned, “I didn’t know. I mean, if I had known I would never have done it.” It wasn’t until the king spoke that Mylo realised that cleric Saskia had led him to stand in front of the king. And probably his being thrown into the palace dungeons for his stupidity.

**~*~**

“I would like you to tell me who gave you the plant for my husband?” Quinlan could barely contain his rage. He wanted to lash out at somebody, and this man looked like a pretty good target.

“It was Ormand, Lord Dalziel’s son. He told me the plant was a gift from one of Consort Brayden’s friends from his past. I didn’t know what it meant until the cleric Saskia explained.”

“Did it not seem strange that Ormand didn’t want to deliver the gift himself?” Quin demanded. He rubbed soothing circles on Brayden’s back as his husband shuddered in his lap.

“I thought so at first, but then he told me you were a little upset with his father. He said Consort Brayden was holding him to blame for his father’s stupidity.” Mylo paled significantly. “Why am I always such an idiot?”

When Cleric Saskia placed his hand on the young man’s shoulder the man jumped in fright. “What is your name?”

“Mylo, my name is Mylo Kornel.” Mylo answered softly.

“Where do you come from, Mylo Kornel?” Brayden asked. “Just by looking at you even I can tell you’re not from Panthea.”

“No, Consort Brayden, I’m from the lower end of Darvish. My family are mainly sailors. My mother sent me here after she dreamed I would be needed here. My father on the other hand didn’t want me to come. Apparently he thinks my mother should stop interfering whenever she sees something.”

Surprise crossed cleric Saskia’s face, “Would your mother be Bryn Kornel; Mistress of the Keep?”

A true smile crossed Mylo’s face. “Yes, she’s my mother.”

“What is going on?” Brayden asked as he leaned back into Quinlan’s chest.

Cleric Saskia was the one to answer. “Bryn Kornel is a seer of great power. I met her years ago when I was but a child. She told me then that she would send my mate to me when I’d need them the most.”

Quin saw how Cleric Saskia let his gaze wander over Mylo. The gleam in his eyes was also a telling sign that young man was definitely Saskia’s type. Quin appraised Mylo; granted the man was muscular with large arms.  The strong face let the world know Mylo was not a man to be messed with. Yes definitely Saskia’s type. Quin wondered if Mylo had the markings to prove he was Saskia’s intended mate. They had spent many an hour discussing the fated mate mark—as Quinlan had never heard of such a thing before. By the look in his friend’s eyes he knew Saskia was thinking along the same lines.

“Could you take off your shirt?” Cleric Saskia asked.

“What?” Mylo took a step away. His hands clenched in the front of his own shirt. “Why do you want me to take off my shirt?”

“Your mother told me there would be something on your upper body to would let me know you were the one fated to be my mate.”

“Oh,” Mylo nervously pulled his shirt over his head; wadding it into a ball in front of him as cleric Saskia stared at his naked torso.

“Well?” Quinlan asked

Cleric Saskia could only nod as his fingertips reached out and traced the pattern that ran down Mylo’s left arm from the base of his neck spiralling around to his inner wrist. It’s exactly as the seer predicted. Cleric Saskia cleared his throat, “He’s my mate.”

On The Upside...

I've been away a lot lately... I've been having a bout of very bad & horrible migraines... I know, I know--suck it up, Princess, no one likes a whiner.

On the upside in between bouts of my head feeling like it has wanted to explode and where I can actually think for a while... I've been discussing with myself (yes I talk/argue to myself a lot), but also been telling my editor Christie N at MLR about what I have planned for future books in The Lines Of Marsden. Talking to someone about it has helped me through the sorting out process. there were parts I wasn't too sure on that might delve too far into taboo subjects. Now I have a better path ahead of me that doesn't change the story line but takes away the parts I was iffy on.

I'm still not feeling 100% but I am getting back to my cheery, sarcastic self, and hope to actually be back to writing at some stage later this week.

Happy Birthday To Me...

Just because I can...

Sentinels Of Varnuse: When The Walls Come Tumbling Down #5

#5.

A whole month had passed since their wedding; since the day Quin had finally made Brayden his for all time. Quin sat upon his throne watching the people around him. Something wasn’t right. There was just something that seemed off, and he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it could possibly be. Even though everyone appeared to be acting the same as usual, he still had the sense something bad was heading their way.

The kingdom of Panthea was usually a very peaceful place to live. They even got on with all their neighbours. There was nothing he could think of which could upset the world in which they lived, yet, something was niggling in the back of his brain as if in a warning he needed to take precaution. Even greater was the sense he needed to look after his family—because when it came, and it would—his family were going to be targeted.

“What has that look on your face?” Ingrid said softly as she took a step closer to him. “I can hear you thinking from where I stand.”

“I just have a feeling something is coming. Something I’m not going to like.” A frown came and rested on Ingrid’s beautiful face, which in turn brought a frown to Quinlan. “Now what are you thinking about?”

“Is this a feeling, or a premonition? Because, if it is a premonition we’ll need to make plans. Your premonitions have never led us wrong before.”

“I don’t know what it is. I just have this feeling something is coming for Brayden and the boys.” Quinlan shook his head in frustration. “I really can’t see clearly what it is.”

Ingrid cracked her knuckles and appeared to be in thought. She grinned when Quinlan winced at the action. “Sorry, keep forgetting you’re a wuss, and can’t handle that.”

Quin glared at her. “I’m your king. Isn’t it about time you showed me some respect?” He had to fight the smile that was coming, because he knew full well Ingrid in fact respected him a hell of a lot more than she afforded other people.

“Not gonna happen, Quinlan. I know all your deep down secrets…and I’m not against using them for my advantage”

Luckily he knew she was only joking. “Don’t suppose you’ll be willing to forget those—hmmm?”

“Ha!” Ingrid blurted out then blushed in something akin to embarrassment or maybe exasperation. Quinlan wasn’t quite sure which one.

“Look, here come your heart now,” she gestured in Brayden’s direction as he entered the great hall.

Quinlan’s breath caught at the smile Brayden wore as he approached. His husband always did have the best smile. In quin’s opinion it was only rivalled by his sons.

“Good morning, my love, did you sleep well?” Quin held out an arm and pulled Brayden down onto his lap.

Since his return Brayden had thrived on a lot of affection, and Quin was willing to give him whatever he needed to feel whole. There were secrets in Brayden’s past which he wasn’t ready to share yet, and Quin was prepared to wait until he was.

Brayden leaned in and kissed Quin on the cheek. “I slept very well,” Bray answered as he wrapped his arms around Quin’s neck and held him tight. “Thank you for the present, it’s beautiful.”

Fear and caution warred within Quin as he tried to keep his voice calm. “Present? I haven’t given you a present.” He tightened his embrace when he felt his husband begin to tremble. “What did you get?”

Brayden pressed his face into Quin’s neck. Quin knew Bray was taking in his scent. Over the last month he discovered this was how Bray was able to calm himself.

“It was a flower. Actually, it’s the whole bush.” Bray sat up and looked Quin straight in his eyes before he continued speaking. “When I woke up this morning there was a potted plant sitting beside the window in our bedroom.” Confusion seemed to have filled his eyes. “I could swear it’s the Heart of Panthea, but I thought they died out generations ago. I went and looked it up in the library before coming here—just to make sure that’s what it really was.”

Quinlan looked at Ingrid and without saying anything she went and spoke to two of the guards. He knew she’d sent them to retrieve the plant in question, and bring it to them.

“Are you sure you didn’t give it to me?” Brayden’s voice quavered.

“No, my love. I’m positive the gift wasn’t from me.” Quin kissed Brayden’s temple. “Don’t worry, we’ll have it sorted out in no time.”

Brayden couldn’t seem to grasp what was happening. “Then who would give me a present if not you?”

“I don’t know, but we’re going to find out. You belong to me,” Quin hugged him possessively, “no one else can have you.”

Quinlan and Brayden sat up straighter as the gift in question was brought before them. Quinlan had to admit, as gifts went, it was truly beautiful. The heart shaped leaves were of the deepest green, and the flowers were of a red so dark it looked like they had been soaked in blood. This was the reason for the name the Heart of Panthea. What many people didn’t know, or maybe wouldn’t remember, is the Heart of Panthea was usually sent as a warning. To receive such a gift meant someone had put a price on your head.

Quinlan gazed at the man sitting panicked on his lap, who in their right mind would put a price on his husband’s head? Why would they? More to the point is how did they get into the castle undetected? The look on Ingrid’s face told Quin she also remembered the meaning of such a gift.

Ingrid shook her head slightly as if telling him not to say anything. Her gaze flickered to the still trembling Brayden then back in his direction. Quinlan dropped his own gaze to her hands and saw their sign for, ‘we’ll talk soon,’ followed closely by the sign, ‘I have a theory,’ this was something he couldn’t wait to hear, and he knew that whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be good.

Her theories were never good.

Beautiful According To Me

4 pictures that I think are absolutely beautiful.