Healer

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Healer Copyright © 2009 Viola Grace ISBN: 978-1-55487-318-0 Cover art by Martine Jardin All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books Look for us online at: www.extasybooks.com

Healer

By

Viola Grace

Chapter One Evah Mattlin sighed and looked at her patient, “Sebaka, I keep telling you that you are not sick. You are pregnant. Take the supplement that I gave you and stop eating fatty foods. Your body can’t digest them right now.” She was losing patience with this patient, Evah was not cut out for administering prenatal care. “But I crave it, Evah. I have to have it.” Sebaka was only two months into her pregnancy and she was really whiney, even for a Wyoran. She had been binge eating everything deep fried in the village and currently held the projectile vomiting record. “You do not. Self-control is something that you are going to want to teach your child and you might want to start now.” Evah moved around her kitchen and grabbed a few more herbs, measuring them carefully into doses before wrapping them up for the newly pregnant villager. Senatha was a tiny village on the Wyoran colony world named Merwil. The village had a 1

Viola Grace population of three hundred and all of them depended on Evah for their care. Too bad she had been tricked into coming with a promise of love and marriage—she may have enjoyed it otherwise. Sebaka left with admonitions on how to take the herbs to stop the vomiting and nausea. The silence in Evah’s house was welcome and she wallowed in it. She sighed and looked out her kitchen window, watching the mayor and the villagers put up the decorations for the day after tomorrow’s Bell Festival. It looked to be quite a party, and when she had time, Evah joined the dancers for practice. It was good exercise and helped her keep her equilibrium in this new world with new responsibilities. Her stomach growled—it was time to eat. Keeping up her physical strength was important as a sudden dip in her weight could throw off her healing ability. That had to be avoided at all costs—it was her only reason for being in this village, to be their healer. With the low-tech restrictions on the planet, people had to cook the old-fashioned way, with fire. Evah had healed enough burns in the village to be wary of fire so she struck a deal to have her meals delivered. Precisely on time, there was a knock on her door. “Evah, Healer, I have your dinner.” Waval’s 2

Healer husky tone was distinctive and sent male hearts fluttering all over the village, but she had yet to pick a suitor out of the throng. Evah checked to make sure that her robes and facial screen were in place before she opened the door. Waval’s bright smile and curvy figure worked their way into her home and set the food out on the table. As soon as her dinner was arranged, Evah nodded to Waval who left with a smile and a carefree swish of her hips. She would have given anything to be that happy with her life. Evah waited, as was her tradition, and watched the sun set, then tucked in. She had to move the gauzy veil aside to eat and it was why she and other grafting healers ate alone. Her body bore the marks of the last two months of healing. Every burn, gash, break and twist had been transferred to her body from that of her patient. Her patient received tissue from her body in return and they both healed more rapidly than they otherwise would. Her body had driven off the man she had come here for—he had taken one look at the scars she wore as marks of healing and run the other way, leaving her alone on a strange world to fend for herself. Life and love sucked. She was on her third bite of the cooked fowl in gravy with a rice stuffing when a pounding on her door got her attention. “Healer! We have need of you.” The mayor was 3

Viola Grace nervous about something, his voice was almost shrill. Sighing, she put her plate on the far edge of the stove so that it could keep warm and covered it with the metal lid that Waval had brought along. The pounding on the door continued and she yelled, “Just a moment.” She refastened the gauze that separated her from the world, unlocked her door and swung it wide. “How may I help you?” Five armoured guards were behind the nervous Mayor Nalish. Four carried a litter with another male on it. One of the newcomers stepped forward, pushing the mayor aside. Based on the gold trim on his armour, he was very close to being in charge. “Our leader requires healing. He was hunting and struck by a minth.” “Bring him inside. Up the stairs, second door on the right. Place him on the bed and remove his armour.” She waved them inside and watched the four carriers take his litter up the stairs. “Your mayor assures us that you can do the job.” The spokesman was almost touching her. “If he dies, there will be consequences.” “If he dies, then it will be because you keep me from him. Or because you waited too long to seek help and the venom has permeated all of his organs. Now get out of my way.” She moved to go around him and he blocked her. 4

Healer “What will you require in payment?” “It will be discussed when I see the extent of his injuries and heal them. The effort cannot be guessed at if I haven’t even seen him.” “My lord, we have prepared him as she requested.” The four had returned from upstairs and their commander looked away from her. It was all the distraction she needed. She had them put the patient in her bed because she would need the space. They had taken the armour off, but left the clothing, that would have to go. She whipped out her dagger and approached the bed. A hand stopped her. “What the hell do you think you are doing?” “I need to get his clothing off. I have to have skin to skin contact for a set of wounds this severe.” “Fine, but you put one finger wrong and I will slit your throat.” She was working to get the tunic and trousers off her patient when that last statement hit her. “You can’t watch the healing.” He was naked and he was a big boy indeed. About six foot six if she didn’t miss her guess. She was going to have a helluva time covering him. “I can and I will.” He took her chair from the corner and sat in it, as if she was about to put on a play. One of the first tenants of the Citadel training 5

Viola Grace was that there was no shame in the marks left on the body by the graft healing. They would fade with time and she should bear them proudly. Sighing in resignation, she stripped her robes off and removed her veil. When she was naked, the commander’s sharp intake of breath announced his shock. Fortunately, he didn’t comment on her patches of red and shiny skin or the ridge of scars lacing across her flesh. Climbing onto her bed, she straddled her patient and examined him. Thick black hair waved off a forehead that had a silvery tinge under the tan—Wyoran heritage in action. The velvety nap to his skin was a sensory delight and, when he groaned under her, she got her mind back on business. Three claw marks angled across his face, had puffed the flesh into a caricature of his normal face. Another claw strike had caught him low on the abdomen, under his breastplate. That wound was septic already. She had to work fast. She stretched his arms out at his sides and lay on top of him, her forehead touching his and her hips resting on the wound of his belly. Another gasp penetrated her consciousness as she started to heal her patient. The glow that her skin gave off was blinding to her own eyes and the pain seared her as she took his injuries for her own. Graft Healers had the unenviable talent to take 6

Healer on a wound or infection to their body and letting their own superior biology heal the damage. In return, they gave their flesh to their patients, replacing damaged organs and patching skin. It left a distinct mark on the patient for a few days, but rapidly absorbed into their bodies harmlessly. When her head and belly were screaming in pain, she knew that the healing was done. Shaking, she slowly moved off her patient, only to realize that he had a raging erection. “That isn’t supposed to happen.” “Holy mother of stars. Look at you!” The guardsman was freaked out. There was no other word for it. “I would rather not.” She checked on her patient and measured his vitals with a light touch to his wrist, then gathered her clothing and left the room. The guest room was not as comfortable as her room, but it would do. She needed rest and she needed it in the worst way. It was days like this that she wished she could quit.

7

Viola Grace

Chapter Two It was days like this that made her want to stay in bed. Unfortunately, the pounding of a fist on her door would not cease. Sighing heavily, Evah dressed, covering the newest scars on her face, and opened the door. It was Mr. Guardsman. “He is demanding to see you.” Oh geez, she hoped she hadn’t missed a spot. “He is well?” “He is surprised that he is still alive. Go to him.” The guardsmen turned and went downstairs. She mentally flipped him the bird and moved to her chamber. “Hello? Are you feeling better?” Evah stepped into the room and stared at the face that she had restored. His face was as roughly constructed as a granite cliff face. It held a serious gravitas that she was drawn to, as much as her own features would probably repel him. “I would like to know why I am still alive. The minth wounds should have killed me.” 8

Healer The sheet was drawn over his hips, covering the interesting bits she had only been able to browse at last night. “Yeah, for a cross between a wolverine, a komodo dragon and a poodle, those things are really quite vicious.” “You have not answered my questions.” She was a little woozy from dealing with the venom all night so she took the seat that the guardsman had left open. “You were healed last night.” “No healer on Merwil could have cured me.” His arms were crossed over his chest and she sighed at the flex of the biceps. She had always been a sucker for muscles and he had more than his share. “Well, you are wrong, because I am here and you are cured.” “What are you?” He was trying to stand up. She rushed over to him to keep him in the bed. “You have to stay in there for the next two days. You want the graft to stay in place, don’t you?” She was holding his shoulders so it was relatively easy for him to reach up and tug off her veil. She froze for a second, then tried to replace it. He grabbed her wrists. “Hold still, let me look.” She met his silvery eyes and took a shuddering breath as he examined each and every inch of the marks that she had taken from him. Softly his voice came to her, “Does it hurt?” 9

Viola Grace “Yes. The pain will fade faster for me and I will survive it. You would not have.” She fought him lightly, the wounds on her lower abdomen pulling as she did. “Please let me cover my face.” It was a whisper and tears threatened to fall. His face did not show disgust, but a gentle understanding that she couldn’t deal with, not from someone she was physically attracted to. “Fine, but show me the other wounds.” He let her left wrist go and parted the opening to her healer’s robes. His fingers trailed down her ribs and across her belly, pulling the fabric aside when he felt the healing scars. He looked carefully over the damage, then pulled her close to him. A sob broke from her as he kissed each and every inch of the minth damage. The tears flowed freely now, dropping onto his thick black hair as he traced the healing flesh. When he turned his eyes to her, she continued to weep. “Thank you for my life. What can I do to repay you?” Still sobbing, she told him what she wanted, “Let me go.” The instant he did, she was on her way out the door. She pulled her veil over her face and ran to her kitchen. More food than she could eat in a week was on her table, and no wonder, all of the guards from the night before were around her table, having lunch. “I don’t suppose that there is a plate left for me?” 10

Healer “The last plate is for the Highlord. He will need to regain his strength as he cannot come down on his own.” Mr. Guardsman was hovering over her dishes and preparing food for his master. “Fine. Whatever.” She took the scorched food from the hob and used her robes to guard her hands as she took the plate and scuttled back up to the guestroom. The food was dry, but it was still intact and she swallowed it with only a small amount of difficulty. It would only be for two more days and her patient would be well enough to walk, ride or whatever out of here. Wait, did Mr. Guardsman say Highlord? She finished her food and set the plate aside. She was being a horrible host. Glancing out the window, she noticed that the light was getting a little pink. It was growing close to sundown. She went to her chamber and knocked on the door. It felt odd, but it seemed the thing to do. At the greeting from inside, she went in. Her patient was looking anything but. “How are you feeling?” “Weak. But I will live.” He took a deep breath. “I am sorry if I offended you earlier.” “And I am sorry for my ungracious response. Normally people don’t have a favourable reaction to seeing their wounds on another.” She wandered over to her chest of drawers and pulled out a deck of cards. “Would you care for a distraction?” He leaned against her headboard and crossed 11

Viola Grace his arms again. Dang, those were gorgeous muscles. “It depends on what you had in mind.” “Playing a game from my homeworld. It is called go fish. These are the rules.” She began a rambling explanation of the game, but before they started, he grabbed her hands. “What is your name, Healer?” “Evah. Evah Mattlin. Of the Alliance protectorate of Terra.” “I am Radal Golix. Highlord of the Merwil colonies.” He brought her hands to his lips and kissed each one. Shaken, she tried to get them back onto the card games. Fortunately, he was an able student and in no time, they were boring the heck out of each other with the game. They moved on to snap, and after he flattened her hand and apologized, she taught him basic solitaire. That relieved his boredom, keeping his brain occupied while she gathered up changes of clothing. “Where are you going?” His head snapped up as she made her way to the door. “The baths are left unoccupied for me in the evenings. I need to bathe frequently.” She shrugged, then gasped as he jumped out of bed and cornered her against the door. “A bath sounds like just the thing.” He opened the door and shouted down the hall, “Kalen!” Mr. Guardsman came bolting up the stairs, 12

Healer “Yes, Lord Radal?” “A change of clothing for me, soap and a cloak. I will accompany the healer to the baths.” He strode down the stairs, brushing past the minion who had run at his call. As soon as he could pass his lord, Kaden was out the door. He returned less than a minute later with the desired objects only to find his lord scowling at the mess that his men had made of the kitchen. “What happened here?” “The mayor sent food, the men were hungry.” “What did Evah eat?” “Uh, Sir?” There was a flush on Kalen’s cheeks. “I don’t know. You got the last serving of the meal.” “We are in her home, did you think to save some for our host?” Kalen was now mortified. “No, Sir, it did not cross my mind. I will not make that mistake in the future.” “And you will clean up the mess you have made. Get to it.” Radal swirled the cloak around him and nodded to Evah. “I am decent, unless there is a stiff breeze. Shall we?” He nodded to her to lead the way and, with cheeks flaring, she did. The path to the baths was well worn which was good, as Radal had no footgear on. She walked in front of him, carefully assessing the lay of the land. She kicked a few loose rocks out of the way, 13

Viola Grace smiling at how that small gesture of protection made her feel. Then she mentally kicked herself for thinking of protecting the mountain of muscle behind her. He had guards and probably a bevy of women back at his home who would take care of him at a moment’s notice. He didn’t need a scarred-up healer from an alien world. Reaching the baths was a relief, and as usual, there was no one in them. Hot springs provided a constantly circulating supply of water at varying temperatures depending on where the pool had been dug. She put a chipper note into her voice, “Well, I will be over there in the tepid section, feel free to call me when you are done.” It was standard for men to start at the hot pools and work their way over to the lower temperatures. Days when her back ached from bending over patients she longed for that hot water, but the burns that she healed made her ridiculously sensitive to high temperatures. So, tepid it was. “You have healed burns?” “Yes.” “Ah. I will accompany you then. With your injuries, you may not be able to reach your back.” Oh crap. He was set on joining her. This was going to be an exercise in self-control. His cloak fell to the floor and he stepped into the water, lowering his body below the ogling point. Damn. Well, he had already seen the worst. 14

Healer Layer by layer, she shucked her robes, her veil hitting the floor last. Naked as the day she was born, but patchy as a quilt, she stepped into the water. It was too much to hope that he hadn’t watched her. “Why are you so interested in looking? Most look away.” “I studied at the Citadel when I was younger. Learning the ways of the healers was part of the course. Grafting healers are rare, are they not?” “Relatively, yes. We are hard to spot. You have to look at the people around them and, if you locate a completely healthy hub in the middle of an outbreak, you probably have a graft healer in there.” “Ah. Interesting.” Evah believed him. He was far too frank to engage in subterfuge. She was blushing, she couldn’t help it. He was looking at her now as if she was a woman, not a mass of damage. It was more than she was used to. He apparently sensed as much. “You are not used to attention. Especially from males.” He seemed pleased by it. To stall for time, she grabbed some soap and began to work up a good lather. “No. I am not used to attention from males. It doesn’t happen often.” He had drifted toward her while she was speaking and she squeaked as he grabbed her soap and pressed her against his chest while he 15

Viola Grace rubbed the soap in slow circles over her back. His hands were sure and deliberate, learning each and every bit of her before moving on to the next. She was humming with arousal by the time he finished her back and let her rinse, of course, being plastered against his fabulous chest and his sturdy erection may have had something to do with it. She kept her eyes down, which was an effort when he rubbed the soap across her breasts and belly, under her arms and between her thighs. That one touch put her over the edge, rocking her into a gasping orgasm that shook her until she was clinging to Radal limply. He was looking pleased but surprised. “I am so sorry about that. It has just been a while.” She laughed weakly. “A long while.” He backed them up and sat on one of the stone benches carved in the side of the pool, pulling her in to sit between his thighs. Her back was against his chest and the heated bar of his arousal was obvious in the lukewarm temperature of the bath. He tugged at her scalp and Evah came to the realization that he was unbraiding her hair. “I have been wondering how long this was since you first lay on me during the healing.” “Oh. You were awake for that?” A fat lock of chestnut hair fell over her right shoulder and draped over her breast. “I was in a great deal of pain, but I was 16

Healer conscious. Your hair has many colours in it.” She could feel the silky strands flowing down her back, and when he had all eight braids unwound, he slid his fingers through her hair, combing it. “Brown, red, gold, it matches your eyes. Why do you keep it bound?” “It gets in the way during healing. It slithers out of my veil and sticks to open wounds.” The repetitive stroking of his fingers through her hair had her in very relaxed state. “That makes sense, I suppose. It is lovely though.” He continued his ministrations. She leaned completely against him, giving him full access to her if he wanted it, and giving herself a place to nap. She braced her hands on his thighs and did what she really wanted to do—fell asleep in his arms. **** The instant she fell asleep, Rapal smiled. He could feel the pliancy in her limbs where they rested against him. Despite the aching throb in his cock, he was glad she trusted him enough to sleep near him. Of course, she may just be exhausted from the healing. Regardless, he was not going to abuse her trust, no matter how tempted he was. Since he had made his vow, no woman had 17

Viola Grace affected him this way. The instant her flesh touched his, despite his injuries, he had responded. It was a little surprising to hear that she was a Terran. Absently, he held her and washed her hair as he contemplated his next manoeuvre. The scars on her face were already fading more rapidly than would be normal, but that had been the residue of what he had learned at the Citadel. Graft healers could accelerate their own regeneration through physical pleasure. It turned their energies inward to boost their natural talents. He had been surprised that she didn’t know about the technique, but was pleased that he was her first. Speaking of firsts, he finished rinsing her hair and laid her across his thighs. Watching her face for any sign of discomfort, he slipped a finger into her and had to hold his breath as her heat burned his digit. A little more of a stretch and he found the barrier he had anticipated. A smile stretched his features. Perfect. He had found his lady at long last. She was beautiful, brave and had no problem taking the pain of others as her own. Just the thing he needed and wanted in a lady. That and the passion that had risen so easily at his touch. Evah, graft healer of the Citadel, would be his. He simply needed to begin his courtship. 18

Healer With what he had to admit was an evil grin, he started to stroke and caress every inch of his new companion with delicate precision. Her breasts fit his hands perfectly, the nipples rising at the lightest caress. She must hate that. Each brush of the fabric of her robes would stimulate them to peaks. The texture of her unscarred skin was as soft as a flower petal. The scent of her body in the warm water was sweet, like the faintest touch of honey. He wanted nothing more than to wallow in her scent all day, but her hands were puckering in the water. Regretting the necessity, he shook her awake, “Evah, wake up. Your bath is done.” When her deep brown eyes with their thick lashes blinked up at him, she looked a little confused. Her full pouting lips tightened and she bit the lower one gently. The small gesture sent a bolt of lust through him. He wanted those lips on his skin, preferably wrapped around his cock, tugging gently. As she realized that she was lying across his lap with her hair flowing freely, she pulled away abruptly. He sighed heavily and watched her float across the pool in the fashion of the water born. Her hair swirled around her in the water, making her appear to be a creature born of the hot springs themselves. His. She would be his. He had all the time in 19

Viola Grace the world to court her, and she would not allow another to touch her, of that he was certain. It was one of the only things he had been certain of since his need had forced him into celibacy. No more meaningless encounters for him. His body had identified her as a match and he trusted his instincts. **** The rapt look on Rapal’s face was enough to cause a flush of embarrassment to flow through her. She had no idea how long she had napped in his embrace, but it was obvious that he had something on his mind, and that something was sex. With her. It didn’t matter to him that she was a patchwork human, and as she looked down at herself, she found to her surprise that the patchwork was less obvious. “A side effect of the orgasm. Your generated energy stays within you, accelerating your normal healing process.” He sounded like he knew what he was doing. Moreover, he sounded like he knew what she was doing. “Why didn’t they tell us that in training?” “They probably did. I find that most healers tend to tune out matters regarding their own bodies.” He had a point there. 20

Healer “So you are a virgin?” Evah felt her jaw drop in surprise at his question that was more of an observation. She wanted to be honest. “Yes and no.” That threw him. “What?” “When I joined the Volunteers to leave Terra, I was not a virgin. Mind you, my first experience had been years before and it wasn’t any good. Painful really. But when we were practicing graft healing at the Citadel, we had to start on each other. We replaced each other’s scars and minor organ failures, all generated before we grasped our talents. I replaced a few appendixes or something similar, some tonsils and healed a few stab scars. One of my creative classmates repaired the residue of my hymen. It was a classroom joke and soon all the females were back to an untouched state. Some of the men, too.” She kept her breasts under the water, and her loose hair provided enough of a veil for her modesty. “So you were not and now are a virgin.” He looked bemused. “You have known the touch of a man.” “More the fumblings of an idiot. It did not go smoothly.” She shook her head and smirked at the memory. She was glad that it was a moment that was behind her, but thanks to her classmate, she had to face the pain and humiliation again. Idiot. “I can see why you would not want to repeat 21

Viola Grace the experience. But perhaps it was the partner and not the activity that caused the problem.” “I concede that such might be the case.” He was brusquely washing his own body, standing waist high in the water. Her eyes watched his hands carefully as they lathered, rinsed, scrubbed and stroked at his skin. She fought the urge to run over to him and act as his personal loofa, instead choosing to get out of the water and dry off with the provided toweling. She deliberately kept her back to him until her robes were firmly in place. The sluice of water let her know that he was getting out and the patter of wet feet on stone had him coming up behind her. “That isn’t fair. I watched you bathe.” “You bathed me. There is a difference.” “Indeed. To be fair you should have bathed me.” He was trying to keep it light, but was very tired. She could hear it in his voice. “Next time, Rapal. For now, I need to get you back in bed. You are not strong enough to be running around and flirting naked.” “Ah, I would be honoured to have you escort me to my bed.” He dried himself with the linen and hung it up neatly on the rack. “Well, I suppose that it is your bed. Why did you give it up to me?” She held his tunic and trousers out to him, one 22

Healer at a time. Then handed him the boots he had carried with him. He stepped into them and turned for her perusal. “Good enough?” She swallowed heavily. “Good enough. Let’s go.” Without clothing, he had been slightly vulnerable, but with it he was impervious. She was kicking herself for not dumping his clothing in a bathing pool when she caught a startled look from a villager that they passed on the pathway. She realized abruptly that she had failed to put her veil on. He was staring at the shiny scars making their way across her face from the left side of her forehead to the right side of her jaw. “Good evening, Nemal. How are the wife and daughter today?” “Fine, Healer. Good evening to you as well.” He bowed deeply and let them pass. He did not seem disgusted, merely curious. Her shoulders straightened and she walked beside Rapal in silence. The lights in her home glowed brightly. It was a concession to her occupation that she had a home lit at all times by the bright and luminescent rocks that Merwil was famous for. “They should have our dinner ready by now.” “I thought they ate our dinner.” “They ate yours, I requested that they create new food for our return.” She snorted and he looked over at her, startled 23

Viola Grace by the noise. “You ordered them to clean up, you said nothing about food.” “It was implied. They will have something ready for us.” He was very lackadaisical about the whole thing and supremely confident in his guardsmen. “Hey, if they are guardsmen, why didn’t they go with you to the baths?” “I had you to protect me.” He gave her a wink and they stepped back into her home.

24

Healer

Chapter Three It was the largest omelette that Evah had ever seen, the eggs must have come from the local fowl farm. She didn’t know the name of the enormous bird things, but they laid ostrich-sized eggs. The guards took a variety of posts around her home and made themselves inconspicuous while she and Rapal ate. Kaden even went to get fresh water for the table when she emptied the pitcher. It was surreal. The guards had stared at her face a bit when she first arrived, but a glare from Rapal and their eyes found other places to look. Their conversation covered the mundane until she finally got up the nerve to ask him, “So why were you in the Citadel?” “Ah. That. Like many Wyorans, I have a certain psychic talent. I went to the Citadel to learn about it and other talents developing in the Alliance.” It sounded so reasonable, like he was just going away to college, but there was more to it than that. 25

Viola Grace The skin she had given him flushed at a memory. Apparently, it was personal. “Who was your instructor?” “Chancellor Vehin.” Oh. That explained it. Vehin specialized in sexually related psychic talents and activities. He intervened when talents used their gifts for obtaining partners or tampering with their mates. It was a serious matter. If you couldn’t trust the person in bed with you not to take advantage, who could you trust? He made sure that those matters were resolved in a timely manner. “He is an excellent instructor. I had him for an ethics class.” With that one sentence, she eradicated the tension that had filled him. She was almost smiling as she took another gulp of water. “You need to get back into bed. You will heal more rapidly with rest.” “I will go back to bed as long as you join me.” She was in the middle of another swig of water and choked in reaction. “What?” She waved off the guard that came to pound her on the back. “I am not climbing into bed with you.” “Yes, you are. But don’t worry, I am not up for more active activities. Sleep is my main concern.” He was laughing at her, but it wasn’t a mean laugh, merely delight at her outrage. “You have to be feeling just as flattened as I am. After all, you have been dealing with the wounds, I am only 26

Healer dealing with the new skin.” He was right. She was run down. “Fine, I will join you. Only because my bed is more comfortable than that in the guest room.” “Whatever helps you sleep, Evah.” He extended his arm. She took it in a courtly gesture of subservience. The guards nodded at them both, even Kaden giving her a low bow as they made their way up the stairs to her room. She stopped short when she entered her room and saw the mirror that she normally kept in her closet out on the dresser. In true feminine outrage, she noticed that her hair was a mess. Tangles and nests ran through the chestnut strands and she hissed in disapproval, then ran to get her hairbrush. It was only when she had started working her way through the knots that she heard the laughter. “Alright, what is so funny?” “You are so busy looking at your hair that you haven’t even noticed your face. Look.” She looked. “Holy hell.” Three silvery lines were all that was left of the scars she had taken on. Her hands opened her robes and pulled them aside to check on her abdominal slashes. They were faint as well. Amazed, she turned to him and smiled. “All this from one orgasm?” Rapal was sitting on the edge of her bed and watching her delight. “Yes, Evah, all that. Now 27

Viola Grace imagine what would have happened if you had come while I was inside you. You would be completely whole by now.” The image that his words evoked, his body over hers, thrusting into her as she screamed and went to pieces around him was so evocative that she sat down and blushed from head to toe. Wet heat emanated from deep in her abdomen and while she knew the details of lust, the personal experience had thus far eluded her. Well, until tonight. Tonight he knew exactly what he was doing to her and they were still seven feet apart. Oh hells. His voice was stroking places deep inside her as he continued, “Are your nipples hard? I noticed earlier how responsive they were to the smallest touch. Are you getting wet for me? I can smell your heat from here.” She quivered and took a deep breath. Wyorans did not all have enhanced senses, but those who did were predominantly male. “I thought you wanted to rest.” With shaking hands, she turned back to the mirror and worked on her hair. “Come here, let me do that.” His invitation was sincere. She squinted at him with suspicion, but with only her own hands doing the work, it was going to take forever. Her hair was far too long to manage easily. 28

Healer “I promise to keep my hands on your hair.” “Well, as long as you promise. No funny business.” The human phrase did not translate well, but he got the idea. “I will not make you laugh.” Rapal kept his face somber. She saw the corner of his mouth twitch. He stripped off his clothing, scooted against the headboard and spread his thighs, patting the bedding between them. “I undid your hair, it is only right that I help smooth it. Remove your robes, we will sleep when your hair is tidy.” With no small amount of reluctance, she removed her robes and slowly made her way to the bed with her hairbrush. His skin was hot where they touched, but she soon wiggled into place with her back against his chest. His hand on her hips to still her, let her know that her wiggling should cease. He took up hanks of hair and worked the brush through them. He was really quite good at it and she relaxed against him as he lifted her hair and worked the tangles out from the bottom up. It was so soothing that she lost track of time. As soon as her hair was free of tangles, Rapal slid his fingers through her tresses to her scalp, massaging her tension away. If she could have purred, she would have. And then she would have yelped. His left hand rubbed her scalp as his right hand 29

Viola Grace wove its way between her thighs. His fingers parted her folds and slid between them. His ministrations to her had relaxed her to the point where her response was sluggish, but she did grab his wrist with both hands and try to dislodge him. “Hey, you agreed, no funny business.” “And I assure you, I don’t find this the least bit funny.” His erection was pressing against her spine and the dampness at its tip was marking her skin. “Besides, I agreed to keep my hands on your hair, you have hair here.” He stroked the tight curls that guarded her sex. “Sneaky bugger.” She was almost gasping as his fingers danced around her clit. She did gasp when he dipped two fingers into her. The moisture that surged from her caused an answering movement against her back as his cock flexed in response. He started a rhythm, pushing two fingers into her and then drawing them back to circle the centre of her sensations. She braced her hands on his thighs and pushed her hips into his fingers, lifting and beckoning with every movement of his digits inside her. Evah could feel the tension building to a crisis point. Her breath hammered through her lungs. Her heart pounded in her chest. With a scream, she went over the edge. “Rapal!” Black starbursts popped in her 30

Healer mind, her vision dimmed, then brightened as rainbows of light seemed to stream from her body. The thundering of her pulse took physical form as five guardsmen burst through the door. Quick as a wink, Rapal flipped a sheet over her and gestured for the men to leave. “But, Highlord, we heard a scream.” It was one of the younger ones. All Evah wanted to do was to hide from their shocked and curious gazes. She felt Rapal’s chest heave beneath her. “Kaden, take the young ones and explain the difference between a scream and a scream. It may come in handy if they are ever to find women willing to overlook their lack of intelligence.” He had both of his arms wrapped around her now, keeping her from hiding in the sheet. “Take yourselves downstairs and keep out of trouble.” “My apologies, Lady. We will repair the door in the morning. I will leave you to your rest.” Kaden bowed low and closed the door as best he could with the warped hinges protesting. “Well, that was humiliating.” She tried to fight free of Rapal’s grip, but he was having none of it. “No. Humiliating is falling into a thorn bush and having to get Kaden to pull the darts out of my ass. This was merely mildly embarrassing.” He lifted her easily and turned her to face him. “But you should never be embarrassed for letting 31

Viola Grace go. Your release was wonderful to watch.” “Watch? What?” She was a little confused. “What do you mean, watch?” He turned his head to show that the mirror gave a clear reflection of the bed and both of them. He would have had a clear view of every writhe and twitch she had given him. She moaned and covered her face with both of her hands. “Oh.” His chuckle startled her, turning her embarrassment to irritation in a second. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. It was beautiful to watch.” He pried her hands away from her face and gave her a light kiss. “Silly woman. Look in the mirror again.” She hesitated and then turned, carefully crawling to the end of the bed. “They are completely gone. No trace of them.” She ran her fingers over her face and belly. There was no trace of the scar tissue that she had worn for the last seven years, as well as more recent acquisitions, like his minth marks. “You glow, you know.” He was enjoying her amazement. “What?” “When you reach your climax, energy flows out of you and you glow. It is really quite lovely.” He leaned back and smiled. “I could watch it over and over again.” She was trying to give him a retort, but a huge 32

Healer yawn took over. Muttering to herself, she crawled back to the head of the bed and grabbed her pillow, right out from under his ass. Rapal barked another laugh as she turned her back to him, ignoring his warm bulk in favour of staring out the window. The lights of her room dimmed and she kept her back to him, even when he pulled her to him and spooned against her. It was easier this way. “Why did you not seek to, uh, mate with me?” “It would have been disrespectful to you. You are physically a virgin and I will be leaving the village in a day or so.” He nuzzled at the back of her neck. He lifted her slightly and moved her hair out from under her. Rapal was right. He would be leaving as soon as he was healed completely. Tears seeped from her closed lids and she nodded. Her life would fall back into normal patterns, but she would not put the veil back on. If they came to her burned, she would heal them, but they would have to look at it. No more hiding.

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Chapter Four The Festival of the Bells started at dawn. The jingling woke Evah and she struggled free of Rapal’s embrace. It wasn’t easy. He was firmly wrapped around her, one of his thighs flung over her own. He grumped and grunted before letting her go and she leapt away the instant that he moved his arms. “You are far too early a riser.” “It is the Festival of the Bells today. I expect there will be plenty of minor injuries for me to heal and perhaps a few broken bones.” She smiled at him as she tied her breasts down for a busy day. She only wore the band when she had to, the interior of her robes usually gave her enough support, though it did rasp across her nipples. Just as Rapal had observed. She was braiding her hair into a long rope when the Wyoran of her dreams blocked her bedroom door. “I accept that you need to be a healer today, but don’t heal any broken bones. Set them like normal 34

Healer healers do. These people are taking advantage of you and they have to be set straight.” “That tears it.” She poked him in the chest with a finger—god his pecs were huge—and glared up at him. “This village has given me a home, a place to live and friends to live with. In return, I provide them with all the care they need. Except pregnancy. I don’t mess with pregnant women. Now, out of my way.” Right on cue, there was a knocking on her office door. She shoved him out of her way and wrenched open the door. Her sandals pattered on the stairs as she went to answer the knock. The guardsmen beat her to it. “The healer has not risen today. Call back later.” They were about to shut the door in the limping man’s face when she called out. “Hector, come on in. I had a rough day yesterday.” She reached through her door and tugged the man into her office. It was a large room off the kitchen and had an elevated couch for examinations. “What have you done to yourself?” “I was working on hanging bells from my roof when I fell off the ladder. I think I sprained my ankle.” There was tenderness and bruising, but no breaks. “You will need some salve and to keep the ankle wrapped. Get Mina to climb the ladder today.” She patted him on the knee and his mouth 35

Viola Grace went a little loose around the edges. “Healer, this is the first time I have seen you uncovered. You are quite lovely.” “Thank you, Hector. I will tell Mina that you said so.” She gave him a saucy wink and got the bandage from her stores. The salve came out of her cooling cabinet—a root cellar by another name. She applied the salve and then wrapped his foot, not tight enough to cut of circulation, but tight enough to minimize movement. “Off you go. Have a good Festival.” “I will. The dancers are going to be phenomenal.” He was hobbling, but moving better as the analgesic that she mixed into the salve took effect. “Yeah, as long as Sebaka lays off the fried foods.” She shook her head and smiled. Not bad for her first patient. The guardsmen doubled as doormen as a steady stream of patients with burns and scrapes came for healing. Her meal and Rapal’s was delivered and this time the guardsmen remembered to fix her a plate first before destroying the remains. The Highlord was out exploring the village with Kaden and two of the guardsmen. It was just as well, she was busy from dawn until the bells chimed for the beginning of the music and dance. Evah gathered up her traveling kit and went to 36

Healer watch the dancers. She had been to enough rehearsals to want to see the whole thing in action. Her villagers smiled and nodded to her. Even if some of the men stared at her longer than they should, she felt good about outing herself. The gathering had started without her, a hum of anticipation for the dancers running through the crowd. Repal had been given the best seat, front and centre. The happy reaction that her body had to the sight of him caused her a shock. The shock turned to a yelp of surprise when a hand grabbed her and pulled her back into a row of tents set up for the dancers to do prep. “Waval, what is it? Is one of the dancers injured?” “Worse, Healer. Sebaka didn’t listen to you and is hunched over a bowl, losing her lunch.” Waval was in half-makeup, her body decorated with designs that would glow in the night. “We need you, Healer.” “For what? I have told Sebaka that I can’t cure a pregnancy.” “No. We need you to take her place in the dance.” It sunk in as the group of dancers grabbed her and stripped her. When the belled skirt went on with a tug and a shimmy, she knew that it was too late to run, “Oh hells.”

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Chapter Five “Welcome, ladies and gentleman to the Senathan Festival of the Bells. We are minutes away from the dancers, so please have patience.” Rapal nodded in acquiescence and the Mayor smiled and scuttled away. Kaden looked over at his lord. “Of course they want us to have patience, but having waited this long to see some of the dancers, would any of us leave?” Rapal looked around, Evah had not joined him as he had hoped. “So the dancers are said to be good?” “Some of the best if not the best on Merwil. It should be a treat.” The heady beat of drums began and Kaden sat back in his seat. A light shivering of bells preceded the women as they walked to take up positions in the dance floor. Rapal had to admit that the costumes were striking, each dancer wore a mask rimmed with bells, a bodice that covered their breasts before 38

Healer disintegrating into bell covered ribbons. Their skirts did the same. The fact that the women were moving silently with all those bells on them was a testament to their balance. The hair of each dancer was confined with a bright scarf, bearing the same designs as the rest of the dancer. Every inch of each woman’s flesh was painted with designs of Wyoran art. “Impressive.” He nodded to the Mayor and the man started the musicians. As one, the dancers stepped, whirled, twisted and rocked, setting their bells in motion to the beat. The dancers were stone faced—no expression crossed their features as they danced. After the first group dance, there were solos. Each dancer selected a target male and danced for him. Two of them danced before Rapal and he nodded his enjoyment with respect to their efforts, wondering for the thousandth time since arriving where Evah was. The next two dancers picked their males to dance for and it was a stirring sight. There was nothing lascivious about it as the dances that he had been the target of had been. The dance that each of the women performed was graceful and filled with emotion. He wished he could be so lucky. When a third dancer appeared in front of him, he smiled graciously. She twisted her full lips in 39

Viola Grace response and raised an arm to start the music. Her movements started out slow, with a random twisting of her hips to the beat. The music grew steadily and she started a shiver that rang every bell on her body while she moved slowly and deliberately in her dance. His own body was humming with more than light interest at her dance. She moved, glided and twisted in a deliberate manner that belied her personal grace. He knew that body, knew how it moved. Evah. She had been required to dance for some reason. He now watched every lift of her arms, every slide of her hips with interest that throbbed and burned in his groin. Her feet turned and placed themselves carefully in her dance, and when she started to spin, he thought he would lose it. Each spin drove the ribbons that covered her from buttock to ankle higher and higher until her perfect legs were exposed to the entire village. Sweat formed on his brow as she wound down the dance and, instead of kneeling at the finale, she stood and faced him head on. She nodded to him and then went back to the group. A final group dance and the women were free to enjoy the rest of the festival. It was all Rapal could do to keep his seat. He wanted nothing more than to cover Evah with his cloak and carry her to the healer’s home for a night or six, but he had to leave. Tonight. He was merely waiting for 40

Healer the final announcement and then he and his entourage would leave. But not for long. **** Evah couldn’t believe that she had made it. She had survived the public dancing and lived to tell the tale. “How long will it take for this stuff to come off?” She rubbed at the markings on her arms and tried to make eye contact with one of the other women. “Usually three weeks. Shorter if you go to the baths and scrub like hell.” Waval was smiling at her as she redressed in her normal robes. Evah sighed and waved to the women in the tent, picking up her bag on the way out. A few tugs freed her hair from the cloth that bound it and she was just about to remove the mask when she ran smack into Repal, or to be more exact, his chest. “I am leaving now. I thank you for your healing and the hospitality of your village.” He set her back from him and bowed deeply. “Your thanks are welcomed. Be at peace and have a safe journey.” Tears pricked her eyes, but she couldn’t stop them. She removed her mask and looked up at him. “Enjoy the rest of your life.” “I intend to. Thank you again.” He bowed low 41

Viola Grace over her hand and kissed it, then grabbed her around the waist and pulled her in for a serious kiss. On a scale of one to ten of all the kisses that she had experienced in her life, his was a ninetyfive. Her toes were on fire, her belly and even her knees were full of heat by the time he let her go. She staggered for a moment as he mounted his steed with Kaden on the next beast and two guardsmen behind, two in front. Seconds later, they were gone. She had never felt more like crying like an infant. She returned to an empty home with clean dishes and a fixed bedroom door. She closed and latched her door, ready to forget one of the most interesting men she had ever met.

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Chapter Six Evah was back into her routine, but no one was bringing in minor injuries anymore and expecting complete healing. Rapal had spoken to the mayor and he had had a word with the rest of the village, one by one. She had fixed two broken limbs, but her patient had brought someone to serve as her legs while her own body healed. It was becoming a thoughtful place. The third day after the festival, a courier showed up at her door. “Healer Evah?” “Yes.” “I have a parcel from the Highlord Rapal.” The courier was looking around at the house curiously. “Then deliver it. I have to tidy up after my last patient.” She went into her office and set things to rights. She heard movement in the outer rooms and ignored it. By the time the remains from lancing the boil had been dealt with, she was willing to face the delivery from the man she 43

Viola Grace could not forget, no matter how hard she tried. Flowers, flowers and honey. They were everywhere. The courier smiled at her and handed her a letter, then left. The flowers cannot compare to the softness of your skin, nor the honey the sweetness of your lips. R. She sat heavily and looked around her with tears flowing down her face. She touched the petals and smelled the honey. Maybe she wasn’t the only one who could not forget. The following day, another courier, another message. May this silk cling to your skin as I would. R. Bolts of silk came into her home complete with a seamstress who was bemused to be fitting a healer with court clothing. Belna was a great gossip and filled Evah in on all the strange goings on at the palace since Rapal had returned. He had sequestered himself for several hours immediately upon his return. When he had emerged, he was in better spirits than he had been in for years. It was bizarre. And then he began to send couriers out to the village of Senatha, which confused everyone. Belna was content to sit and sew constantly. She kept the patients waiting in the outer room entertained with tales of court life. The next day a courier arrived with three 44

Healer herdsmen in tow. It was a gift for Senatha, a herd of lor beasts, used for wool and for milk. It would enrich the area a great deal. The mayor got that letter and he looked at her speculatively as she admired the fuzzy creatures. He pulled her aside and asked her point blank, “Did you mate with him?” “With the fuzzy critter? No. Just petted him.” His look was impatient. “No. I didn’t. There was no connection of that level made between us.” That was honest, or as honest as she was willing to be. “Then why does he ask my permission as your default guardian to court you?” “He did what?” “He asked for formal permission to court you as his wife.” The mayor became slightly uncertain. “His attentions are unwelcome?” “No. It isn’t that. He just did not mention it to me before he left. I thought he would not wish to see me after that.” “That seems to be the opposite to his true intentions.” He patted her on the shoulder. “He would not have been able to exhibit his true intentions until he received authorization from the Alliance Representative for your species, and our Wyoran government.” She thought about it. “Of course. I should have realized.” It was an interstellar incident. She 45

Viola Grace nodded politely and returned to her flower and fabric filled home. The honey she had given to the village, after keeping one jar, but the flowers were all hers. She mulled over what she had learned and even shared the info with Belna. She was a little shocked, but pleased. The first two dresses were done and the third was coming along. It was a shifting mix of green and purple with a skirt like flower petals. Her chestnut hair would look fabulous with it. “Did Rapal pick out the fabric?” “Yes, Healer. Every bolt.” Belna was smiling in a smug sort of way that was a precursor of gossip to come. The halls of the palace would be ringing in a matter of minutes when she returned. “Of course he did. Damned attention to detail.” A knock on the door sounded and she let in her fifth patient of the day. Evah smiled when she realized that they were coming to share in the gossip central in her living room, as well as get their healing. The next day’s delivery almost made her faint. Jewels, a chest full of jewels for her to wear. She tried on a few pieces before getting to the note inside. These do not compare to the sparkle in your eyes, but the hardness of the stone is set off by the softness of your skin. R. She smiled softly into the chest. His gifts were 46

Healer nice, but it was the notes that were wearing at her resolve to keep him at mental arm’s length. She was done for. Belna finished her dressmaking the same day that no courier arrived. Evah had to admit that she was disappointed. She wandered around in a blue funk all day, barely rallying to see the seamstress off. Perhaps he was tired of her. Tired of working to woo her. Courtship was hard work, or so she had heard. Maybe he was done. She took herself to the baths and was wandering home when she had a funny feeling someone was watching her. She scuttled a little more closely to the tree line and then ran for her home the instant the light pool gave her enough light to run by. She slammed the door behind her and locked it. The knock came as a bit of an anticlimactic surprise. “Healer Evah? I am Healer Owex. I am your replacement.” “Who did you study under at the Citadel?” The masculine voice sounded fine, but how was she to be sure? “Professor M’wix. And then a variety of professors after I learned the basics.” Evah sighed heavily. He was real. “Sorry for the question hour, but I had to be sure.” She swung the door open slowly. He was dressed in healer 47

Viola Grace robes and nodded to her formally. “You said you were my replacement?” “I am indeed. The new healer to the village of Senatha. I have been briefed on the general style of injuries and am well within the parameters needed.” “I have a question for you, what am I supposed to be doing while you are healing the village.” He looked surprised. She saw shadows move behind him. “Didn’t you know? You are being abducted.”

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Chapter Seven “Abducted? You have to be kidding.” She was almost laughing when a familiar face appeared behind Healer Owex. Kaden. He had a resigned look on his face as he entered her home. The guardsmen that accompanied him fanned out and collected the clothing, shoes, sandals, underwear and jewellery that she had received from Rapal. Kaden selected the green and amethyst dress that Belna had sewn and some flattering jewels to go with it. “Wear this. We will leave as soon as you are dressed.” “Where am I going?” It was frustrating, but she changed in her office to save time. “You are being kidnapped and taken to your mate. It is an old tradition that he thought you would enjoy.” Kaden shook his head at such foolishness, but held her hands as she stepped into riding boots that would be appropriate for the journey. When all of her possessions had been removed and she had explained the location of the recipe 49

Viola Grace book for the home remedies that her patients had come to depend on, she was given a thick velvet cloak and swept out into the night. The ride to the one and only palace on the planet took about seven hours. Sixteen men and Kaden surrounded her. A true honour guard if ever there was one. They also didn’t talk, at all. Not one word was spoken between Senatha and the capital. Shoring was probably beautiful in the morning light, but it was still hours from dawn when their party rode through the silent streets. They headed straight for the palace and the guards on duty snapped to formal attention as her party approached. Some kind of signal must have been sent because Rapal was waiting in the courtyard for her to dismount. Her feet didn’t even hit the ground. She was up and in his arms in an instant and she had never felt safer, even with no words being spoken. He carried her through the palace, but there was one small interruption on their way to his chambers. Chancellor Vehin stepped between him and the door to the hall that led to his rooms. “What are you doing with a Healer of the Citadel, Rapal?” “Formalizing our mating.” Rapal was ready for him, which was good. The instant that Evah saw him, she lost her voice. 50

Healer He was after some details. “So you have mated before?” “I have been inside her heat and felt her as she climaxed. I know her face and body, waking and sleeping. She is mine and I am hers.” Wow, what a masterful evasion. If her face wasn’t on fire, she may have even wanted to contribute to the conversation, but as it was, she was trying to stay as inconspicuous as she could. “Then you have satisfied my doubts. Have a lovely day.” Dawn was indeed creeping through the windows. “Good day, Evah.” “Good day, Chancellor.” So it was more of a squeak than a greeting, it still counted. She nodded her head and he grinned at her. She was confident that she was seventeen shades of pink by the time they reached Rapal’s rooms. “Well it was nice seeing the Chancellor again. Does he just hang around on Merwil or what?” “He has come to give me some counselling over the last few months. It has been a trial waiting for you.” He released her legs and slid her down his body. The contact had her shaking in seconds and when her feet hit the floor, her body kept going. Rapal laughed and held her up. “The ride was a little long. You are not used to riding?” “No. And I am certainly not used to being 51

Viola Grace kidnapped. What was that about?” “An old Wyoran tradition of abducting one’s mate. The guard was to keep you safe and show your importance to any who saw your entourage. They also showed the villagers that you were worthy of guarding and that I take the responsibility of your safety seriously.” “And the replacement?” “That took a little more maneuvering, but I did manage to get a new healer for Senatha.” He was still holding her flush against him and his erection was making itself known again. It was hardly subtle. “So what do you want from me?” Time to get the cards on the table before she forgot everything and jumped him. “Your life, your body, your future and your offspring. Not necessarily in that order.” He waggled his dark brows suggestively. She couldn’t help but laugh. Giggles broke through her, a waterfall of joy that ran across her skin. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing them flush from collarbone to thighs. “That sounds interesting, but what do I get?” He began to remove her clothing, peeling fabric away and worshiping her soft skin with his talented mouth. “You get a devoted mate, my body and my honour. And my wealth. Let’s not 52

Healer forget that.” He was nibbling at her rib cage. She braced her hands on his shoulders and let her head tilt back. Oh, that felt good. An impish grin flowed over her face as she absorbed his words. She looked down at him, stroking his hair to make him look at her. She brought her face close to his. “How much wealth?” Her next few minutes were spent giggling and dodging him around the bedchamber. It was harder that it should have been due to her gown dangling around her waist. He caught her and lifted her into the air. She squealed and kicked out, only managing to let her dress hit the floor. She was naked except for her boots now and Rapal needed no further encouragement. He pinned her to the bed with her hands above her head and held her still by the expedience of pressing his weight on her. “Evah Mattlin, graft healer of the Citadel and citizen of Terra, will you be my bride?” She looked into his dark silver eyes for a long moment. “I am going to give a simple yes because I don’t know all of your names.” It was enough, with a roar and a roll, they were in the centre of his bed and his clothing was flying off, aided by his hands. She had one thought as he wrestled her boots off, nearly launching her in his haste. Happy honeymoon to me. 53

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Chapter Eight Evah had a moment of trepidation when Rapal caged her with his body. She relaxed when he planted a light kiss on her forehead, nose, cheeks and then lips. His tenderness was heartbreaking, especially in light of his erection prodding against her belly. She moved against him slowly, an undulation of her hips and torso that made contact with each and every part of him in turn. Her body was begging him for a firmer touch without words. She only hoped that he took the hint. He trailed slow soft kisses down her neck and between her breasts, heading down her belly to finally rest his chin on the apex of her thighs. “Shall I continue?” His voice had dropped three octaves and the rumble ran through all the nerves that joined in her sex. “Yes, please. If you don’t have anything better to do.” Getting oral attention when your partner was laughing was a disconcerting thing, but she 54

Healer managed. Her fingers tangled in his hair to pull him to her as his tongue parted her folds to slide into her centre. He lapped upward and laved her clit. She gasped and shook hard, trying to keep still so that he wouldn’t stop. Thankfully, he didn’t. She climbed the sensations to the edge of her climax and groaned as he held her there. He surged up her body and drove into her in one hard thrust. She screamed, there was no way to avoid the pain that ripped through her, but as she sobbed into his chest, he reached between them to stroke her clit. All to soon, she was on the precipice again, but this time he thrust into her while he stroked her and she was screaming again. This time it was a good one. A bright rainbow of colour exploded from her skin as she rode the waves of sensation. She grasped Repal’s shoulders and held on for dear life. As rapidly as it had come, her pain faded. In fact, his presence inside her was now one of the more enchanting feelings she had ever had. “Are you alright, Evah?” He was stroking her hair, smoothing the wild tresses from her face. “I am great, but could you move again? I think I really like that part.” She lifted her hips against him and rocked to feel him inside her. “Why don’t you do the moving?” He rolled to his back and took her with him. After a bit of rearrangement, she was straddling 55

Viola Grace him with his cock still in her as hard as a spike. “Ride me.” She fumbled with her rhythm for a moment and then rose and fell on him in an ever increasing tempo. Her breasts bounced and Rapal reached up to cup them. She moved harder and faster, leaning forward to rest her hands on either side of his head so that she could kiss him. The pressure of him against the front wall of her channel had her gasping. He was rubbing against something inside her and the friction was driving her insane. She froze in place, wanting to push the spiral higher and afraid all at the same time. It was too much and she said so. “Take it easy, Evah. Just let it come.” His hands were on her hips, shifting her in his rhythm now, hard and fast. She came in a shriek and another burst of light, colour danced behind her eyes and as she let go. Rapal came with her, roaring his satisfaction. There was a certain amount of pain in his voice so she watched his face carefully as he groaned and his cock jerked inside her. If it was pain, she couldn’t feel it. The contortions of his face seemed to belie her first guess. It was pleasure, not pain, that gripped him. She sighed in relief and let her body collapse on top of him. He was a wonderful mattress and still twitching inside her. His hands stroked up and down her back as she got her 56

Healer breathing under control. She finally had enough energy recouped to look him in the eye to ask, “How wealthy, exactly?” His astonished look made her grin and then she was laughing with his recovering member growing to operational girth inside her. A moan slipped from Evah as she started a lazy shifting of her hips that had her body purring with satisfaction. She felt better than she had in years— powerful, desirable and nothing on her body hurt. She just wanted to enjoy the sensation. “Where is the pain? I remember pain and then it was gone.” “Your talent healed you. That and my enormous skill as a lover.” His silvery eyes were glowing as she kept her slow undulating ride on him. “And your enormous ego as well.” She stopped. Resting on him, she propped her elbows on his chest and grinned at him. “Okay. I am done for the night. Goodnight.” She nestled down against his chest and cackled with laughter when he rolled her to her back. At his serious expression, her laughter stilled. Their gazes locked and each watched the sensations in the other as they made love for the first time. He wove his fingers into hers and held her arms above her head. Rapal rocked and slid over every inch of her, lying flush against her. There was no part of her body that he didn’t touch 57

Viola Grace and no part of her soul that felt unloved. Together, they reached their peaks and together, they groaned as it overtook them, never breaking their eye contact. It was the single most intimate moment of Evah’s life and she wanted to do it again. Perhaps after a short nap. With Rapal still inside her, she felt herself slipping into a warm and comfortable darkness. She knew he would catch her when she fell.

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Chapter Nine A warm, scented ocean tide was trying to sweep her out to sea. She clung to the hard, hot reef that had her anchored and waited for the tugging to stop. “This is the second time that you have lain naked on my lap. At least this time I am free to do what I wish.” Her reef was talking. Weird. Well, as long as it didn’t let her go, she could handle it. Oh, it wasn’t letting go, it was petting and stroking her in ways that were less than soothing and becoming quite distracting. “Did I heal myself?” She blinked up at him, loving the way his eyes turned to liquid mercury as she watched. His hands stroked slowly over her, learning every inch, right down to her toes. “You did. I was very proud of you.” He tickled her slightly and she squirmed in his lap. “I was proud of me, too. So what do we do next?” Evah’s hand stroked his cock and she blinked in surprise as it moved in her hand. It was twisting slowly against her palm and she giggled 59

Viola Grace in response. “I didn’t know you could do that.” “I couldn’t. Not until my true mate removed my rigor. It has been awhile since I was able to use it as a Wyoran should.” He was serious. “You were in rigor?” “For the last five years or so. I was waiting for you.” She was ridiculously pleased. “Really? For me?” He lifted her and cuddled her against his chest. She snuggled into him and breathed deeply, there was a scent under the soap that was all Rapal. “For you. I can tell you, I was surprised to see you on top of me in Senatha, but very relieved as well.” “I can imagine. You are so darned large it was the only way to draw both wounds at once.” She yawned. It was terribly embarrassing, but it had been a very long day. “Sorry.” “Don’t be. We will rest now and talk more in the morning. If you are amenable, a linking ceremony will be held in a week or so.” He pressed a kiss on her temple and stood in the bath, the water whooshing off him. Rapal slowly set her on her feet and toweled her dry, then wrapped her in a linen sheet. He brusquely dried his own body off, but didn’t bother with clothing as he picked her shaking form up again and took her back to 60

Healer his bed. Someone had been in to repair the damage that they had done to the linens—the bed was freshly made. “Do you have people living under the bed to make it as soon as you rise?” “No, of course not.” He gave her a wink with his smokey dark eyes. “They live in the closet.” “Okay. That makes sense.” She snuggled under the covers and kept scooting over as he approached. She was almost off the end of the bed when he caught her and dragged her back. “Where do you think you are going?” “Away from you and that prehensile cock. I just want to sleep.” He snorted heavily and hauled her against him, spoon fashion. The cock was drawing little designs on her back, but she was sleepy enough not to care. “Go to sleep. We will spar over my dexterous limbs in the morning.” She was tucked tightly against him and with every part of the world shut out aside from his heartbeat, she slept. “Sebaka, if you don’t take your meds, you are going to keep barfing,” she mumbled it into a pillow. Some callous creature was trying to wake her. “She will never wake up if you do that. Try this.” 61

Viola Grace A fist pounded on the wood of the bed and she felt the vibrations. “Healer, wake up!” She shot out of bed and looked at the crowd of bees that had descended into her presence. They were bees due to their attention to duty in the face of staring at a nude alien woman in the Highlord’s chambers. They had a focus on their work that was scary, one intrepid member was already stripping the bedding off the bed. Rapal was up and standing at the foot of the bed—it was his knock that had woken her. Jerk. “Miss, your dress for the day.” A female was approaching her with a gown in her hands and Evah let her put it on her. It was one of Belna’s confections and suited her to a tee. The matching slippers were presented and she simply stepped into the backless little creations. The maid then bustled her into a chair and began sorting her hair into comb-able locks. The seat that she was in was in front of a mirror so she was able to see Rapal talk to Kaden through the open door. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but based on the looks they shot at her back, it had something to do with her. Her maid was admiring as she worked the brush and comb through her locks. “My lady, you have lovely hair, so healthy and thick.” “Yeah, it’s a hazard of the job. Healthy body, 62

Healer healthy hair. You should see my nails.” Evah held up the digits under discussion and let the maid ooh and ahh at her. “Well, your hair was already combed once this morning, so I am done. Would you like some jewels?” “Sure. Nothing too big though. Something subtle that matches the dress.” They laughed. The dress was a brilliant scarlet. It would take the jet necklace that he had given her to match. The maid found it in a matter of moments. It was perfect, as was the matching set of earrings. “What is your name?” “Alanka, my Lady.” The woman bobbed a quick curtsy and left the room. The rest of the hive had finished their work. It was her, Rapal and Kaden inside the chamber. Kaden bowed deeply to her. “Well, my lady. I am glad to see that you weathered the journey. Congratulations on your match.” “It is Rapal’s match. I simply didn’t fight him on it.” To take the sting out of her words, she reached out to squeeze her mate’s hand. He squeezed back. “Too bad, I love a fight on occasion.” “Oh, don’t worry. I will oblige you there.” She smirked and he looked slightly worried. Kaden snorted. “You are the one who threw 63

Viola Grace down the gauntlet, Highlord. She seems to be rising to the occasion.” Rapal muttered to himself, “I thought that was my problem. Evah, Kaden and I are going to brief you on what is going on. My title is Highlord and I was voted into this position by the colony expedition. You will be Highlady after the formal linking ceremony.” Evah nodded, she knew a bit of it. “The linking ceremony is a Wyoran joining in which the minds of the two who are getting bonded fuse at the emotional level. There have already been at least two Terrans who have linked to Wyorans. One by choice and one under duress.” The males blinked in surprise. “How do you know that?” She snickered. “As soon as I hit a base or space station, I get an update of tales from personnel of Terran origin. One of ours is now a Representative to the Alliance and she has access to all of our records as well as the matches that we have made as part of our contracts.” “Interesting. And all of your species are linked that way?” “No. Only the Volunteers who left the earth have subscriptions. I get the feeling that those we left behind would not be happy to know that our Champions were all female.” She chuckled. Their governments had been told of the welcoming of 64

Healer Terra to the Alliance, but they had refused to tell the inhabitants of their planet that the Champions who had made it possible were all women. In fact, over sixty-five percent of the Volunteers accepted were women. They had more of an inclination to adaptability. The men selected did fine, but they had not blended socially, and that was the deciding factor for the Alliance. “We will need to discuss this further. We are tech restricted, as you know, and I would hate to have you miss out on your information sessions. Something will be worked out, I am sure.” He nodded to her and she grinned back. “Now, back to the linking ceremony. We will have it in front of witnesses and I need to know if there are any people whom you would like to invite.” That threw her. She pondered long and hard. “The dancers from the village would be nice, if Sebaka has stopped puking by now.” “What about Count Welin?” Her mouth opened of its own accord. “You know about him?” “That he lured you here with the promise of marriage and then shipped you off to Senatha while laughing at your stupidity?” Kaden smiled. It wasn’t a good smile. “We know.” She sat down, absently smoothing the gown under her thighs before she took over the chair. “Well then, you know it all. Yes. I met him on a 65

Viola Grace trip to this system. I was looking for a place to settle down, to retire and raise a family. He flattered me and led me to believe that he felt something for me. What he felt was greed. I am now aware that there was a bonus for him to recruit a healer for your world and that I was just one in a long line of candidates. I was a fool.” “We have been looking into Welin’s recruitment techniques. He is being charged by the Citadel with luring operatives to a variety of Wyoran colony worlds, collecting the bonus for providing essential services and travelling to the next colony on his list. He will be stopped here.” “What do you want me to do?” Revenge on Welin had been part of her fantasies for a long time. She would do anything to get that little worm pinned down. Rapal pulled her to her feet and gave her a kiss that started as demandingly as it finished. “I need you to be yourself, calm, collected and sexy as hell.” She blinked for a long moment, then responded the only way she could. “Okey dokey.” “Then, my Lord and Lady, shall we proceed? Today is the day for legal disputes and the petitioners are waiting.” Kaden threw the door open and gestured for them to follow. Shrugging, they did. Evah thought to herself, how bad could it be? 66

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Chapter Ten She had sat through seventeen petitions involving Lor beasts and was wishing that the fuzzy things had taken up sentience. It would have kept them from being disputed. After the first two, she leaned over to Rapal and asked him, “What kind of markings do the beasts have?” “What?” Both he and the petitioners looked at her. “Markings? Brands? Tattoos? Chains? Anything?” She shook her head at their confusion. “Never mind.” “Your species tags its livestock?” Rapal asked her quietly. “Indeed. They are living things, which roam around and can find themselves in another farmer’s property. When there are calves involved, it gets very particular.” “I will discuss this with the agricultural community at large. They may be able to come up with a method that would work on the tough hides of the beasts.” He smiled and squeezed her 67

Viola Grace hand. “Thank you.” She preened for a moment and then sat quietly on her chair next to his. They were equal in height, but his was slightly wider. It was a fair seating arrangement. So the agricultural disputes continued, seed, livestock, land, all were brought before Rapal and, in his capacity as Highlord, he ruled justly. It was fun for her to watch him in action, asking serious questions and refusing to be rushed on complicated issues. He ignored no complaint, merely tabled it for a time when he could devote more time to it. Each farmer had offered him their congratulations on finding his mate. He had nodded and thanked them. They didn’t congratulate her, apparently she was glad to be found. Men. After a small break for lunch, they got to the more serious cases. Actual crimes had been committed and were being brought for judgment. It was sobering to see people who had beaten their spouses, hurt their children or stolen livelihoods from others. She was shocked and merely absorbed the justice that could not salve the hurts. When a small child was held up to Rapal with burns inflicted by her parent, tears burned Evah’s eyes. She held out her hands for the toddler and took the child in her arms, she took its pain—the 68

Healer scars would still be in its soul, but they would not haunt the girl’s body. Anim was the little girl’s name and she cuddled against Evah while her father was sentenced to shunning and being shipped off world. The village would help Anim’s mother, the child would be raised in the village’s care with regular visits from the Highlord’s functionaries. Anim had a handful of Evah’s hair and was playing with it when her mother tearfully ran forward to retrieve her. “She is a very pretty little girl.” “She is lovely. But, my lady! Your face!” Oh, damn. The healing marks. “Sorry about that. I will have to stay indoors until it heals.” She could feel the burning of the individual marks, but better on her than the little one. Rapal took her hand and held it, smiling into her eyes. She knew that smile. He was proud of what she had just done and did not see the marks that now blistered her face. He simply saw into the depths of her soul like no other man had ever bothered to do. She ran her thumb across his knuckles and winked at him. They were on the same page. She saw him from his golden god exterior to the impish man within. They were a surprisingly good match. She looked up and the reason for Rapal and her meeting strutted through the doors. Count Welin. 69

Viola Grace As if appearing from the shadows, Chancellor Vehin drifted to the petitioner’s podium. Count Welin was looking rather frightened and took up a position on the defendant podium. Chancellor Vehin started, “Highlord Rapal, I stand before you as a representative of the Citadel. I charge that Count Wehin has lured healers into positions on Wyoran colony worlds and then abandoned them the instant that he received the personnel bounty. He used the women’s affections to convince them that he had the intent of marriage and then brutally humiliated them with rejection as he left them to the mercies of their new villages.” Count Welin was outraged. “You have no proof of this, any of this.” Rapal, Kaden and Evah looked at each other in surprise. “There is a witness.” “None of those cows would dare speak against me.” Welin crossed his arms over his chest and stuck his nose in the air. She could not think why she had ever found his bronze skin, above average height and great conversational skills appealing. He was a weiner. Evah cleared her throat. “Well, I am not a cow, but I will confirm that you did lure me here with the promise of marriage, left me in Senatha and then never came back for me. It was only when I met 70

Healer the healer from Zanirtha that I knew what you were—a spineless greedy worm who preys on women to make your wealth. You are a pimp, but you do not own the women that you sell into servitude, you merely trick them. You are despicable.” Having said her piece, she was almost ready to spit fire. Rapal took her hand again. “As you can imagine, we have already ascertained the history of your travels with your companions. Oddly for them it was always a one way trip. Most of them have settled, some few even married, but your brutal misuse of trust has given us one and only one conclusion.” The room was silent, Count Welin was staring at her as if he couldn’t remember meeting her— she certainly remembered him. “The sentence for misrepresenting yourself and kidnapping a member of the Citadel is to have your monies given to your victims and you yourself will be turned over to the Citadel for your punishment. I believe that their standard punishment for this kind of offence is memory drain. I wish you a pleasant journey.” Rapal nodded and two more Citadel personnel came from the shadows to take the protesting Welin into custody. He would get what he deserved. To be torn down and built up as a productive citizen. As they dragged him spitting and screaming 71

Viola Grace down the hall she looked over at her husband. “So what is for dessert?” “What?” “Revenge is a meal best served cold. I have had my fill. What next?” “Next is to meet your public, but that can wait until tomorrow.” He yawned. “Tonight is for spending together cuddling and watching a fire while you tell me of your home world. Tomorrow we will ride the palisade.” “Oh god, more riding?” She groaned, but stood as he did. “Well, you seemed to be doing well last night. I suppose you should pace yourself.” He winked again. She felt her face heating. “That may be wise. I should also curtail my nocturnal activities, get more rest.” There, let him stew on that. The expressions that crossed his face made her giggle. The idea of cutting him off sexually would have been more to her detriment than his. The horror on his face made her almost choke on her own laughter. “Oh, Rapal, the look on your face.” She shook her head and sniggered. “It would almost be worth the self-torture.” “That wasn’t funny.” His scowl could have frozen stone. “Kaden thought it was funny.” Evah flipped her hand at the sniggering face of the guardsman. 72

Healer Kaden straightened his features immediately, but the twitching around his lips was still noticeable. It was too funny. Rapal stopped her peals of laughter by the simple expedient of picking her up and taking her out of the judiciary room. Several courtiers stopped to look, a few pointed and laughed and one of the farmers started clapping. Applause followed them down the hall and Rapal simply strode through the keep until he reached their chambers. Funny how she thought of it as theirs already. One day, one night with him and her mind was twisted around him. If her ribs hadn’t been aching by his hold, she would have thought the feeling was one sided, but obviously something beyond mild attraction was working him. Otherwise he would not be dragging her around like a rag doll. When he closed and locked the door in Kaden’s face, she sniggered. Rapal then strode to the bed and dropped her onto the covers. He began to methodically strip his clothing off. When he was finally, splendidly nude, he walked over to her and caged her in his arms. “Now, about not wanting me in your bed?” “Oh, I want you, in our bed. Each and every day and night.” She reached down to hold his cock, loving the feel of it undulating against her palm. “And right now.” 73

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Chapter Eleven “I want nothing more than to sink myself into you, but since you object to riding me, perhaps I should simply slip into the saddle, as it were.” Rapal pushed her gown up past her hips and sucked in his breath when he saw that she wore no undergarments. Evah gasped as he burrowed his head between her thighs. She shrieked a little when his tongue parted the petals of her sex and entered her. What followed was the most delightful oral play that Evah had ever known. He knew where to lick, how hard to suck and how to flick her clit to the best advantage. Before she knew it, she was headed over the precipice of release, and the instant before she went over, he stopped. “No!” “Patience.” He surged up her body and, seconds later, his cock was working its way into her, literally. He wasn’t moving his hips at all, but the concentration on his face proved that he was controlling the flesh surging into her inch by inch. 74

Healer Based on her human interactions, the feeling was exquisite. When he was fully seated, she kept still, getting used to the sensation of fullness. He started to move. With their eyes meeting in a lover’s gaze, his cock undulated inside her until she came, milking him with the strength of muscles that were in peak physical shape. He called her name as he arched above her, spilling his seed into her channel. She could feel every spasm and twitch of his member as it released. “Wow.” He dropped heavily onto the bed next to her and smiled at her. “If that means wonderful, then I second your wow. If it merely means good, then I shall have to work on it.” She snuggled against him, loving the feeling of his arm around her. “Please. By all means work at it. I look forward to being experimented upon.” He pressed a soft kiss against her forehead and laughed. “It is always nice to have a cooperative subject. And occasionally nice to have a resisting subject.” “We can try that next time. You can chase me around the judiciary.” She bit him lightly. “It’s a date.” He rolled so that she was on top of him. “Go to sleep, we have some riding to do tomorrow.” She snuggled into place on him, ignoring his renewed physical interest. She wouldn’t be 75

Viola Grace surprised if she woke with him inside her. There were worse ways to wake up than to have the man you loved inside you. She slept with that feeling burning through her, keeping her as warm as the man under her. The next week passed in a blur, but eventually the fittings stopped and they were standing in front of witnesses agreeing to link. Evah met Rapal’s eyes and sent her mind out to touch his as he did to hers. Along the way, they met and twined, sharing the bond that their minds would now carry until they died. It was beautiful and the whole village of Senatha had made the journey to witness. The crowd overflowed the keep so they held the ceremony outdoors. The party started the instant that they spoke the words that confirmed the link and the cheer was deafening. Lost in the mind of their new life partner, they didn’t notice. Evah and Rapal simply held hands and stared into each other’s hearts until they were given the signal to leave. Lovemaking was taken to a new level when their minds were linked. The love was no longer spoken, but felt. Evah slept with Rapal’s love inside and around her. It had been a good day and it was the start of a great life. 76

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Epilogue Rapal was sweating, pain rippled through him again and he groaned in pain. “Men. They want the fun, but they can’t take the pain.” Evah huffed a bit herself, but stroked her mate’s hand. “It is almost time.” “Thank the stars, I couldn’t take much more of it.” He groaned again as the pain ramped up. Evah sat up and winked at the midwife. As much as she enjoyed making him feel it, she had had her fun. “Alrighty, let’s meet my new baby.” She started pushing when she felt the baby crown. Within five minutes , the midwife caught the child and tied the cord off. “A lovely girl, my Lady.” Evah was panting, laying flat on the bed. The last push had done her in. She was exhausted. “Oh, gimmee. A little sister for Mehal and Ril.” She cuddled the blood-smeared baby when it was handed over. “Honey, Rapal sweetie, wake up.” She nudged him with her elbow and nodded 77

Viola Grace again to the midwife. The woman finished with the afterbirth and then fetched a cup of water. She handed it to Evah and stepped back. Evah unceremoniously dumped it on Rapal’s head. He sat up, blinking and cursing in confusion. “Great, the first words your daughter heard is son of a bitch. Way to set an example.” He reached out to the infant. “Really? Another daughter? What shall we name her?” “Margo. It was my grandmother’s name.” “Margo it is. Margo, I am going to get your brother and sister so they can all be jealous of your perfection in person.” He kissed his new daughter on the forehead and headed out the door. Before he left, he turned back to Evah and she felt his amusement through the link. “Now we need another boy to even things out for Ril.” Rapal laughed and ducked as a book came sailing at his head. “Perhaps after you have healed, love.” Evah blushed, even with the child in her arms. No one could spur her personal healing like Rapal did and he had been diligent after every child. She let little Margo hold her finger and smiled as the tiny one gripped it tightly. She would be a fighter, like her father. Speaking of fighters, she could hear her eldest squealing in excitement down the hall. Mehal had 78

Healer been named for his grandmother and now it was Margo’s turn. Ril’s voice also came to her, more curious than anything, but what could she expect of her two year old? He was her personality to a tee. All curiosity and very little would stand in his way. He was going to be a handful. The midwife had cleaned her and taken away the linens. She was clean and neat, if a bit sweaty, when her children and husband came through the door. She felt her heart swell with joy as she took them all in. Each of them was hers in a different way and she had never felt happier to be greedy.

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Author’s Note The Gift of Wyora was my first experiment with this species, and it keeps making me smile. The Wyoran’s are an aggressive, nurturing, loving species with interesting attributes. I can’t wait until the next one comes my way.

About the Author Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there. She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time. Her line of day job tends to be analytical which leaves her mind hopping to weave stories. No coworker is safe from her character analysis. In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales. Viola’s fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush. Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love. Viola can be reached at this email: [email protected] Viola’s website is located at: http://www.violagrace.com