Review: Perfection Unleashed by Jade Karrion (Double Helix Book One)

This book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

Click HERE to see the schedule.

Welcome to The Wormhole.

It is my pleasure to feature this review of 

Perfection Unleashed by Jade Kerrion.

Perfection Unleashed

Book 1

Genre: Science fiction (Dystopian)

ISBN: Perfection Unleashed 1469980355

ASIN: Perfection Unleashed B008E98YFM

Number of pages: 212

Word Count: 87,000 words

Cover Artist: Jason Alexander

Two men, one face. One man seeks to embrace destiny, the other to escape it.

Danyael Sabre spent sixteen years clawing out of the ruins of his childhood and finally has everything he wanted--a career, a home, and a trusted friend. To hold on to them, he keeps his head down and plays by the rules. An alpha empath, he is powerful in a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution, yet his experience has taught him to avoid attention.

When the perfect human being, Galahad, escapes from Pioneer Laboratories, the illusory peace between humans and their derivatives--the in vitros, clones, and mutants--collapses into social upheaval. The abominations, deformed and distorted mirrors of humanity, created unintentionally in Pioneer Lab's search for perfection, descend upon Washington, D.C. The first era of the Genetic Revolution was peaceful. The second is headed for open war.

Although the genetic future of the human race pivots on Galahad, Danyael does not feel compelled to get involved and risk his cover of anonymity, until he finds out that the perfect human being looks just like him.

Excerpt:

On another Friday night, she might have been out at a Georgetown bar, accepting drinks from attractive men and allowing them to delude themselves into imagining that they might be the lucky one to take her home.

Tonight, she had work to do.

The hem of the white lab coat brushed about her legs as she strode toward the double doors that barred entry to the western wing. No one paid her any attention. Scientists and lab technicians scurried past her, nodding at her with absent-minded politeness. On Friday evening, with the weekend beckoning, no one thought about security.

Where men faltered, technology kept going.

The corridor seemed endlessly long, and the security cameras that pivoted on their ceiling-mounted frames bore into her back. She knew that her image likely featured on one or more of the many monitors at the security desk, but a combination of training and nerves of steel steadied her. She resisted the urge to twitch or to hurry her pace.

Each step brought her closer to an ominously glowing red eye on the security panel beside the door. Undeterred, she waved her badge over the panel. Moments later, the security panel flashed to green and a heavy lock slid back. Another small triumph. It usually took a series of them to make a victory.

She lowered her head, ostensibly to look down at the tablet in her hand. Her long, dark hair fell forward, concealing the lower half of her face from the security camera as she walked through the open door. “Entering the western wing,” she murmured, trusting the concealed microphone to pick up on her whisper.

“Good luck,” Carlos’s voice responded through the tiny earpiece inserted in her right ear. “All’s clear out here.”

“I’m really glad the security pass I programmed for you actually worked,” Xin added, a whimsical tone in her voice.

Zara was glad, too. She had a solid plan. Two of her finest associates backed her up—Carlos Sanchez waiting in the car concealed off road outside Pioneer Labs, and Mu Xin poised in front of a computer in her Alexandria home—but she could come up with a list of a half-dozen things that could still go wrong.

Kindle  Print

Perfection Unleashed

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008E98YFM

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008E98YFM

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/175081

My thoughts:
Wonderful Sci-Fi thriller.  Exceptionally built characters in a non-stop action story.  I love the idea of "perfection" and the philosophy of humanity.  The writing is clever and very visual.  This is just the beginning of the series and I am looking forward to reading the rest.

Author Interview: Serafima Bogomolova

Welcome to The Wormhole ~ today it is my pleasure to feature an interview with Serafima Bogomolova, author of My Trickster.

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

As far as I remember I have always been interested in writing.  I cannot recall a precise moment in time when I realized I want to be a writer. Deep in my heart I have always known that. It is just that until recently I was not ready to properly acknowledge my own talent and share my writings with wide audience. But now I do, and that is why I have written my debut novel, 'My Trickster'.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

One can say I had had a colourful career before I became writer, but all of my jobs or preoccupations were somehow connected to working with words and written publications. I have been a Russian and English language teacher and translator in Helsinki, a Marketing/Distribution Director for a start up magazine publishing company in London, a Publisher of a cigar magazine in Moscow, and I also launched and published my own digital magazine, Avantoure - Life is a Game!

? How long does it take you to write a book?

Since I have had an experience of writing just one book, my debut novel My Trickster, I'll base my answer on that experience. It took me less than a year to write the book. I think it could have been faster, if it was not for some unforeseen obstacles connected to life itself.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I'd say my most interesting writing quirk is the way I work with words. I use words to paint images/pictures for readers to experience. My writing is sensual in a way that I engage reader's senses and I'm able to show rather than describe. This creates a very distinct cinematographic feel or as one of the reviewers noted a 'classic movie feel'.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

I get all of my ideas from my own life and experiences, as well as people I've dealt or deal with. So far, I have been lucky in coming across some real life characters that provided a wealth of material for my debut novel. While writing, I really needed do very little in terms of character tweaking, as they were so complete and perfect that all I did is taking them and placing into my story.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

I do not decide, I get prompted to write a story. Again, in my case real life serves as a source of all my inspirations providing encounters or clues to what to write about next.  But that, of course, can change, as life itself is a constant change. So, I never cling to an idea in its virgin form. I take it and mould it as I go.

? What books have most influenced your life?

At different stages of my life I was drawn to and influenced by different books. For example, in my teens I was very much into romanticism of Russian classics such as Turgenev and Pushkin. Later, I was into J. D. Salinger, Somerset Moem, and John Updike. At some point in my life I was crazy about Iris Murdoch and her mysterious, twisted novels.  And recently, I have discovered such wonderful female writers as Erica Jong, Tove Jansson, Julia Cameron, Barbara Pym, Stella Gibbons...

? What are you reading right now?

Right now I am finishing 'Lucia in London' by E. F. Benson; it's a novel set in 1920s London in socialites circles and depicts many quirky characters with the main being Lucia, a real personality and a cunning woman.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I like dreaming, walking, reading, talking to my friends, listening to music, travelling. Some of those things I do simultaneously, for example walking and talking to my friends, or travelling and reading, especially on the planes, or listening to music and dreaming...

? What is your favorite comfort food?

I do not have favourite comfort food. I eat when I am hungry and never to comfort myself. I love all food, and enjoy dining with my friends and relatives, and love to have breakfasts in hotels: there is such a variety of food on offer there.

? What do you think makes a good story?

To my mind a good story is a story that is told in an entertaining way. The one that captures your imagination, grasp your attention, and does not let you go even after you turn the last page and reach the end of it. Well, I think the storyteller is the one who makes a story a good one. He/she is the one who is able to draw unique characters and paint an enticing picture for the reader...

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

My favorite Russian author is Anton Chekhov, one of the greatest writers of short stories in history. He used to say: 'Brevity is the sister of talent.' And my favorite English author is John Fowles, a master of mystification in modern literature.

Fun random questions: 

• dogs or cats?  - Dogs
• Coffee or tea? - Tea
• Dark or milk chocolate? - Dark one
• Rocks or flowers?   -Flowers
• Night or day? - Twilight
• Favorite color? - Rainbow
• Crayons or markers? - Markers
• Pens or pencils? - Pens

More about the author:

Born in a romantic and poetic city of St Petersburg, Russia, Serafima Bogomolova has travelled a lot and lived in different countries and cities, but the dynamics and urban cultures of London, New York, Moscow, and Dubai attract her most.

Serafima was greatly inspired and influenced by Russian and English classics. Her favorite Russian author is Anton Chehov, one of the greatest writers of short stories in history. He used to say: 'Brevity is the sister of talent.' And her favorite English author is John Fowles, a master of mystification in modern literature.

Serafima's own writing journey started in October 2010 in New York where a certain sequence of events and meetings helped her ecognize her talent. In fiction, and also in real life, she is drawn to thrillers and stories with a twist; they entertain her mind and add a touch of exhilaration to her own life that is in itself a life-long, mind-twisting novel.

My Trickster by Serafima Bogomolova

Amazon Product Description:

When enigmatic Angela Moreaux, a woman he thought he had exorcised from his brain, calls and asks for his help, reluctant, but unable to resist, a hedge fund owner and an expert in stock market manipulation, Juan MacBride flies out to Moscow. On his arrival a bitter disappointment awaits him as he finds out that Angela fails to show up for their meeting in the Ritz. Instead, Juan is greeted by an elderly Swiss gentleman, who passes a mysterious note to him embarking Juan on a journey of discoveries that he wishes he never made...

Please stop back on February 10 to see my review!

Blog Tour: Grave Intentions by Lori Sjoberg (giveaway - tourwide)

This blog tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

Click HERE for more tour information.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.

It is my pleasure to feature:

Lori Sjoberg and Grave Intentions.

Lori has joined us for an interview:

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?  It all started with my addiction to the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich.  When I ran out of Plum books to read, (at the time, it was To the Nines) I turned to the wonderful world of fan fiction.  Unfortunately, there wasn’t much Morelli-based fan fiction, so I started writing short stories of my own.  Gradually, those stories became longer and longer, until the day came when I wanted to create my own world and characters.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?  Six:  Flea market vendor, restaurant worker, retail manager, officer manager, financial analyst, and insurance account manager.

? How long does it take you to write a book?  It varies, depending on the length.  At the moment, I’m averaging between six months to a year for a full-length manuscript.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?  I keep a spiral notebook so I can scribble notes whenever ideas pop into my head.  It comes in handy when I don’t have access to my laptop!

? Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?  If I have the time, (and if weather permits) I like to take a long walk with my dog prior to writing.  Walking helps clear my mind and focus on my work in progress.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?  Oh, they come from all over the place.  Sometimes they stem from current events, while others spring from life experiences.  I got the idea for my current work-in-progress while on a Caribbean cruise with my husband. 

? How do you decide what you want to write about?  Usually, I follow the direction of my muse.  Once an idea pops into my head, I’ll mentally build a cast of characters around it until I have enough material to start writing.

? What books have most influenced your life?  It’s so hard to narrow it down to just a few!  The works of Edgar Allen Poe and J.R.R. Tolkien definitely had an early influence.  More recent ones include Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, One For the Money by Janet Evanovich, Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie, Naked In Death by J.D. Robb, and On A Pale Horse by Piers Anthony.

? What is the first book you remember reading by yourself?  Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

? What are you reading right now?  A Taste of Ice by Hanna Martine

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?  I love to travel.  The opportunity doesn’t present itself as often as I like, but when it does my bags are packed so fast it’ll make your head spin! 

? What is your favorite comfort food?  Macaroni and cheese.

? What do you think makes a good story?  Compelling, realistic, three-dimensional characters.  If the reader doesn’t care about the characters or find them believable, then they won’t care about what happens to them.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?  Diana Gabaldon, because her stories pull me in so completely I’ll skip meals and stay up way too late to read her novels.  Heck, I’ve even taken time off work so I can buy her books first thing on release day, and then spend the rest of the day curled up on the couch reading!

? What book, if any, do you read over and over again?  I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.  It has it all: humor, romance, action, intrigue, time travel, and some of the most compelling characters I’ve ever encountered.  If I’m feeling down, One For the Money by Janet Evanovich never fails to brighten my spirits and make me laugh.

Fun random questions: 

·        dogs or cats?  Dogs

·        Coffee or tea?  Neither.  Can I have Diet Mountain Dew instead?

·        Dark or milk chocolate?  Dark chocolate

·        Rocks or flowers?  Rocks

·        Night or day?  Day

·        Favorite color?  Purple

·        Crayons or markers?  Crayons

·        Pens or pencils?  Pencils

More About the Author: 
Growing up the youngest of three girls, Lori never had control of the remote. (Not that she’s bitter about that. Really. Okay, maybe a little, but it’s not like she’s scarred for life or anything.) That meant a steady diet of science fiction and fantasy. Star Trek, Star Wars, Twilight Zone, Outer Limits – you name it, she watched it. It fed her imagination, and that came in handy when the hormones kicked in and she needed a creative excuse for staying out past curfew.

After graduating from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science, Lori worked for nearly a decade in retail management. When that got boring, she switched to financial planning, and then insurance. The writing bug bit a few years later. After completing her first manuscript, she joined the Romance Writers of America and Central Florida Romance Writers. Now she exercises the analytical half of her brain at work, and the creative half writing paranormal romance. When she’s not doing either one of those, she’s usually spending time with her husband and children of the four-legged variety.

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLoriSjoberg - www.lorisjoberg.com - @Lori_Sjoberg 

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6574214.Lori_Sjoberg

Grave Intentions
First Book of the Grave Series by Lori Sjoberg

Genre: paranormal romance
Number of pages: Approx. 289

Book Description:

He's handsome, reliable, and punctual-the perfect gentleman when you want him to be. But this dream man is Death's best agent-and now he's got more than his soul to lose . . .

One act of mercy before dying was all it took to turn soldier David Anderson into a reaper-an immortal who guides souls-of-untimely-death into the afterlife. But the closer he gets to atoning for his mortal sin and finally escaping merciless Fate, the more he feels his own humanity slipping away for good.

Until he encounters Sarah Griffith. This skeptical scientist can't be influenced by his powers-even though she has an unsuspected talent for sensing the dead. And her honesty and irreverent sense of humor reignite his reason for living-and a passion he can't afford to feel. Now Fate has summoned David to make a devastating last harvest. And he'll break every hellishly-strict netherworld rule to save Sarah...and gamble on a choice even an immortal can't win.

My thoughts:
I truly enjoyed this book.   Original and well-written, this is one you don't want to miss out on if you enjoy a paranormal romance.  The characters are fantastic.  I fell in love with David first, then all the rest.  The world they live in is realistic and the storyline is intriguing as well as original.  The relationships between the characters are well done and heartfelt.  The "twist" of fate is unexpected and the ending, although satisfying, leaves you wanting MORE!


Giveaway Info:
Two e-copies of Grave Intentions Amazon or BN   tour wide

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mindjack Trilogy Book Trailer! (Open Minds, Closed Hearts, Free Souls) by Susan Kaye Quinn

Mindjack Trilogy by Susan Kaye Quinn

When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.

Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can't read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can't be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf's mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she's dragged deep into a hidden underworld of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.

When you control minds, only your heart can be used against you.

Eight months ago, Kira Moore revealed to the mindreading world that mindjackers like herself were hidden in their midst. Now she wonders if telling the truth was the right choice after all. As wild rumors spread, a powerful anti-jacker politician capitalizes on mindreaders' fears and strips jackers of their rights. While some jackers flee to Jackertown--a slum rife with jackworkers who trade mind control favors for cash--Kira and her family hide from the readers who fear her and jackers who hate her. But when a jacker Clan member makes Kira's boyfriend Raf collapse in her arms, Kira is forced to save the people she loves by facing the thing she fears most: FBI agent Kestrel and his experimental torture chamber for jackers.

When your mind is a weapon, freedom comes at a price.

Four months have passed since Kira left home to join Julian's Jacker Freedom Alliance, but the hole in her heart still whistles empty where her boyfriend Raf used to be. She fills it with weapons training, JFA patrols, and an obsessive hunt for FBI agent Kestrel, ignoring Julian's worries about her
safety and repeated attempts to recruit her for his revolutionary chat-casts. When anti-jacker politician Vellus surrounds Jackertown with the National Guard, Kira discovers there's more to Julian's concerns than she knew, but she's forced to take on a mission that neither want and that might be her last: assassinating Senator Vellus before he can snuff out Julian's revolution and
the jackers she's come to love.

Trailer:

To celebrate the release of the trailer,
she's putting Open Minds on sale!

now $0.99
for one week only

Review: The Skin Map by Stephen R. Lawhead

The Skin Map by Stephen R. Lawhead

Amazon Product Description:

It is the ultimate quest for the ultimate treasure. Chasing a map tattooed on human skin. Across an omniverse of intersecting realities. To unravel the future of the future.

Kit Livingstone’s great-grandfather appears to him in a deserted alley during a tumultuous storm. He reveals an unbelievable story: that the ley lines throughout Britain are not merely the stuff of legend or the weekend hobby of deluded cranks, but pathways to other worlds. To those who know how to use them, they grant the ability to travel the multi-layered universe of which we ordinarily inhabit only a tiny part.

One explorer knew more than most. Braving every danger, he toured both time and space on voyages of heroic discovery. Ever on his guard and fearful of becoming lost in the cosmos, he developed an intricate code—a roadmap of symbols—that he tattooed onto his own body. This Skin Map has since been lost in time. Now the race is on to recover all the pieces and discover its secrets.

But the Skin Map itself is not the ultimate goal. It is merely the beginning of a vast and marvelous quest for a prize beyond imagining.

(I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review).

My thoughts:

     I wasn't sure what to think of this book as I started it.  I had not read the jacket of the book or the Amazon blurb listed above and was going into it blind.  I was pleasantly surprised.

     This is a complex story of multi-dimentional time travel, alternate realities, and magic.  The characters are wonderfully ordinary and yet extraordinary at the same time.  Each seeming to discover themselves and their strengths by the sheer need to adapt and survive.  

     I enjoyed the story and the characters.  I would say that Mina was my favorite, even though I disliked her at the start of the book - she proved to be more than she appeared as the story built, but each of the characters held their own. 

     The plot is many layered and complex, certainly not a light read when you have ten minutes to kill.  It is well worth the time spent.  It is packed with action, intrigue, deception, and wonder.

     Although I liked the characters and thrilled in the complexity of the book, I was left feeling that it didn't finish.  I see that it is a series, but would have liked a bit more closure.  I felt that such a story, and the characters within, deserved a bit more from the ending.  

Blog Tour: Surrender: The Ferryman and the Flame by Rhiannon Phaille

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

Click HERE to see the tour schedule.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.

It is my pleasure to feature:

Rhiannon Paille and Surrender.

Rhi has joined us for an interview.

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I was twenty two by the time I came back to writer. I went through accountant at ten, singer at twelve, teacher at eighteen, and then writer.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

I worked at the concession stands in the arena, mcdonald’s, a shoe store, a daycare, a restaurant, and a Tim Horton’s before I got married and had kids.

? How long does it take you to write a book?

A month, to a month and a half.

? Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?

Music. I really need to find the best song so I can begin writing.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

It decides me. I often don’t spend forever coming up with ideas, they find me, and eventually I’m like, “oh I guess you want me to write you down.” Then I do and those ideas vacate my mind.

? What books have most influenced your life?

The Hobbit, Wizard’s First Rule, The Mists of Avalon, and The Mortal Instruments Series.

? What is the first book you remember reading by yourself?

See spot run. It was a first year’s easy reading book. I saw spot run.

? What are you reading right now?

Nothing! Which is actually great for me.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Watching too much tv . . .

? What is your favorite comfort food?

McDonald’s French fries with bbq and mayo mixed.

? What do you think makes a good story?

If a story could also be a news article, it’s a good story.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

Cassandra Clare because her writing made me believe my writing was great.

? What book, if any, do you read over and over again?

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.

Fun random questions: 

·        dogs or cats? Cats and dogs.

·        Coffee or tea? Tea, I’m allergic to coffee

·        Dark or milk chocolate? Milk

·        Rocks or flowers? Neither

·        Night or day? Night

·        Favorite color? Green

·        Crayons or markers? Smelly markers

·        Pens or pencils? Pens

More About the Author:

Rhi was never a normal girl. Her life was an urban fantasy wrapped in a paranormal romance and served with a side of horror. To escape her everyday weirdness she began writing fantasy. She studied at U of Sedona and MIMT, obtaining a PhD in Metaphysical Science and Parapsychology. She’s married to a chef/comic book shop owner and she has a fondness for architecture. She frequents twitter and facebook, but if you really want to get to know her you should visit her site: www.yafantasyauthor.com

http://www.yafantasyauthor.com
http://www.twitter.com/rhiannonpaille
http://www.facebook.com/rhiannonpaille
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4653530.Rhiannon_Paille

SURRENDER
The Ferryman and The Flame Book 1
Rhiannon Paille

Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 978-1480029859
Number of pages: 402
Word Count: 100k
Cover Artist: Marc Wolfe www.marcwolfeart.com
Review copies available on Netgalley: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/21259

Book Description:
How far would you go to save everything you ever loved?

Kaliel was warned about her love for the Ferryman. One day he will marry the land and leave Avristar forever. She doesn't listen, and because of what she is-- a Flame-- one of nine apocalyptic weapons, she sparks a war. In a desperate attempt to save her home and her love, Kaliel tries to awaken Avred, not knowing she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16049030-surrender

Excerpt:

“Sorry I scared you,” he said.

            Kaliel pressed her lips to her knees, hoping she could hold in her emotions. “I’m not afraid of you.”

            Silence hung between them for awhile. He shifted on the cloak, the black tunic he wore shifting with him. He stretched his legs out, and Kaliel looked at his shin-high boots and breeches. He stole a glance at her turtle shell. “What are you afraid of?”

            Kaliel stood. “Happy endings.” She didn’t know how else to explain it. She had contemplated the parable so many times it was exhausting. It didn’t matter which path she took—neither of them seemed very appealing. She let the mist soak her sleeves and stick to her skin. She heard Krishani behind her before he ran his hand down her back making shivers run up her spine. He stayed there, a foot away, and she wished he would move closer, envelope her in his arms. He wasn’t supposed to talk to her. This had to be wrong. What would the brotherhood think?

            “Happy endings?” he whispered. He sounded both unsure and nervous. “What do you mean?”

            “What if someone comes?” She was worried Lord Istar would burst through the trees and find them in this compromising awkwardness. It seemed more taboo than practically drowning in the lake.

            Krishani let out a breath. “Nobody ever comes here.”

            Kaliel closed her eyes. “You come here.”

            Krishani took a step forward and she could feel the heat radiating off him. “All the time.”

She didn’t answer, instead listening to the sound of the falls. Moonlight glinted off the flecks of water. She thought about the orb of ice he created for her. She hadn’t been able to do anything close to that awesome.

“What are you thinking?” he asked again.

She closed her eyes and felt her energy shift; like it had the day she went to the Great Oak. Heat rushed through her as she leaned back, trying to feel him, but not trying to force it if it wasn’t what he wanted. It was clear to her he cared, but she was so worried about whether or not she should let him.

“My parable,” she whispered.

            He went rigid, his hand sliding down her upper forearm. “What did the Oak say to you?”

            She shook her head. “Never mind, I have to figure it out. Both paths seem so dreary.”
            “You seem too sweet to have a bad parable.”

She didn’t want to talk about the nightmares of the Flames, the parable, the fact the Brotherhood would disapprove of him touching her. It felt so natural; the last few moons had been lonely without him. She couldn’t explain what she felt, but she couldn’t watch him marry the land and leave the island.

            “But I do,” she said. She drew her hands instinctively to her chest, her elbows digging into her ribs. He dropped his hand as she turned, and buried her face in his chest. He reluctantly ran his hands through her hair, letting them rest on the small of her back.

            “I thought about you every day,” he said as she pressed her cheek into his tunic.

            She smiled against his shirt. “And I thought about you.”

            “Promise me something?” He wasn’t holding her, not really, their bodies weren’t pressed together and the inches between them made Kaliel feel cold.  

            “What?”

            “You’ll find a happy ending.”

            “What if I can’t?”

            He pulled back and brushed his thumb across her cheek. “Promise me you will.” His eyes met hers and his jaw dropped. His hand paused, cupping her face in his palm. He held her gaze, her heart beating hard. Before she had time to answer, he pressed his lips against hers. She didn’t expect him to do that and it was better than she imagined. She came to life under him, kissing him back with unyielding passion that made him pull away to seemingly catch his breath.

            Kaliel’s sadness drained away as he broke from her lips and then cupped her face with both hands and kissed her again, pressing the length of his body against her. His kisses made her feel light and giddy, like she could float into the sky. She slid her hands up his chest and looped them around his neck. There was swimming in the lake and losing her breath and then there was this. Being out of breath with him was like drowning in a sea of happiness. He could keep her prisoner forever and she’d never complain. He pulled away again, and wound his arms around her waist, trapping her against him. His lips found hers again, rough and inexperienced, but strong and satisfying.

She opened her mouth and his tongue grazed hers, warmth spreading from her heart to the rest of her body, making her tingle. She smiled against his lips.

“I missed you.” She tried to steady her breathing.

Krishani shook his head and put his hands on either side of her face. “This is all I want. This and nothing else, ever.” His mouth covered hers again. He pressed himself against her and she sighed. It felt like she had known him her entire life and even longer, if longer even existed.

Images appeared behind her eyelids—the shape of a boy and a girl wearing gaudy crowns on their heads. They were painted into parchment, but they were blurry. She was too elated by Krishani and his lips on hers to record the images, but they seemed familiar.

And then everything changed. Krishani pushed his lips against hers one last time and she felt the shift in her energy dissipate. It was as though all the joy evaporated, replaced by intense fear. She pushed him away and tried to understand the pounding in her heart that made her want to break in half.

Bloom the weed of temptation.

He looked confused and shocked. Without a word, she turned and fled towards the Elmare Castle.