Michaela had never danced with such passion before. Maybe it
was because of the thousands of intoxicating flowers ornamenting the city’s center.
They sent their aphrodisiacal scent to fill her lungs and erase her nervousness
of sexual promise. Maybe it was the sight of the stone altar across the square.
It was upon that surface where she’d watched Plasian youths give their virginity
in celebration of reaching the age of consent. Maybe it was the sheer joy of dancing
a wild entreaty to violent sex, with light manacles and chains around her wrists.
More probably it was the sight of three Kalquorians at the foot
of the stage, glowering at her with barely contained ferocity.
Seeing those purple eyes riveted on her made Michaela’s head
swim more than the aroma of the flowers. Korkla, Raxstad, and Govi were obviously
pissed off. They were also blatantly aroused.
Michaela was barely aware of anything else. She knew Jessica
danced on the other side of the stage with the Crown Prince Clan watching her. Many
Plasians crowded against the massive Kalquorians and the stage, watching them perform.
Some fucked each other in broad daylight. The festival looked primed to descend
into a mass orgy at any moment. It probably would the moment the dance ended.
Michaela paid the Plasians no mind. She didn’t even think about
the hideous statue that loomed over the altar several yards away, though it was
the vision of nightmares. To Michaela, the thing looked like a winged Plasian, if
said Plasian was half bat and half dead oak tree. Jessica had said it was one of
the planet’s ancient and forgotten deities. Michaela thought the thing should not
just be forgotten, but also destroyed. Seeing the young people shedding their virginity
under the leering creature had been downright creepy.
Then Clan Korkla had shown up, and all of Michaela’s thoughts
of the ugly statue had ceased to exist. Her heart leapt with savage joy to see them
arrive, looking furious enough to storm backstage where she watched them while hidden
behind curtains. Her plan to make them jealous had worked. Now she had to make them
mad with lust as well, mad enough to claim her without any more caution.
She’d taken the stage with a vengeance, matching the men’s black
stares with her own. They had courted her and turned her away. They had teased her
and left her wanting. Spurred by agonized wanting and the inhibition-killing flowers,
Michaela was determined to have her way.
I will have you, she
thought at the men as she defied their anger with a dance every bit as ferocious
as their expressions. Every step she performed was a blatant dare for them to take
her.
You cannot resist me. Make
me yours.
She’d watched the newly matured Plasian girls give up their virginity
on the altar. Now it was Michaela’s turn. She would not be denied. Not this time.
Not ever again.
You want me. Take me now!
The fierce drumbeats suddenly ended, finishing the dance. Michaela
dropped to the stage, playing the role of the reluctantly vanquished slave girl,
overcome and submitting to her masters. Tumultuous applause crashed against her
ears, applause she cared nothing for. She lay gasping for air, waiting to see if
fantasy would consent to become reality.
Something low and dangerous rumbled over the cheers. It started
off like a distant roll of thunder, and then grew to the sound of an enraged animal
growling. Michaela’s heart, already galloping from the exertion of the energetic
dance, pounded faster than ever. She raised her head and looked toward the bestial
noise.
There was the blurred motion of something leaping from the ground
onto the stage. Then Raxstad appeared, standing over her with fangs bared. The huge
Nobek looked bigger than Michaela remembered him being. His muscular shoulders were
a mile across. His reaching hands were bear paws. He resembled nothing remotely
civilized.
Now
available from Amazon, Amazon
UK, Smashwords,
and in print.
Finally B&N has the book. They took their sweet time, of course, I'll read it in a seating and tomorrow I’ll be bleary eye staring at my computer.
ReplyDeleteI love the new book tracy, was up all night reading. I was disappointed that you didn't add the parts from Interludes into this story about the miscarriage and the second baby's birth, and the break down with that though.
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