Print Length: 107 pages
Everything changed with one jump.
Shattered, Leaf fled to the last place she wanted to be- Onyx Narpole’s world…Onyx Narpole’s arms.
Leaf Harper was Onyx’s enemy; he made sure of it. Onyx could forget everybody and everything, but he could not forget why.
***
In the Elven world of Cassenia, there are good guys and then there was Onyx. The war was over for everyone but him. He took it upon himself to establish his father as the leader of the Elven Alliance. But, he didn’t count on Leaf. Leaf allied to Roman, Onyx’s cousin, and rightful heir. Leaf, set to marry Bin, Onyx’s sworn enemy. Leaf, trembling in his arms, melting under his touch and setting him on fire…
Snippet 1
“I’m supposed to trust you?”
“You don’t trust me?”
“We’re talking about a war.” She sipped some more.
Onyx leaned in again, took the cup out of her hand and kissed her while her lips were still coffee-warm. “Trust that.”
She wanted to. This was so…special. He was…wow. But… “How many girls trust your kisses?”
He didn’t hesitate. “Too many to count.”
That wasn’t good. “You want me to trust something that’s clearly not true?”
“There’s a difference.”
She waited.
“I didn’t ask them to.”
Snippet 2
“You didn’t see anything, except what I wanted. I’d been in her bed all night. Trust me, if I had intended to shag her, it would have been accomplished hours before you got there. Hell, her panties were still in place.”
Roman didn’t want to know. “Why are you sharing?”
“Because I now owe you allegiance. And, for some incomprehensible reason, you mean something to her. Your opinion matters…to her. I won’t have you or anybody thinking less of her because of me.”
In spite of himself, Roman felt both relieved and a nagging growing respect for Onyx’s feelings toward Leaf. “May I ask why the charade?” He pointed back down the hall.
“You know my father. Had I not completely compromised her, and took the entire situation out of his hands, would he consent to a Fada?”
“Don’t call her that again.”
“I’ll call her any damned thing I want.”
“I’d rather not see you with Leaf. What’s stopping me from going back and telling them you used me?”
“Leaf knows what did and did not happen between us. I don’t recall her making any denials. I don’t recall her saying anything. You can go back there if you want to stand in the way of her happiness and a truce between our fathers. Besides, when you get right down to it, who gives a shit about your jealousy? I know there’s a part of you that wishes for a different relationship with Leaf. But, you roped it in for West. Keep doing that.”
Novelist, Reviewer, Content Editor, Blogger, T-shirt Wearer, and Professional Snacker; Tracy A. Ball is a native Baltimorean and a veteran West Virginian whose family is blended from three cultures. She has opened her home to foster children, drug addicts, AIDS victims and anyone who needed an assist. She knows people who have committed murder and people who have dined with the Pope.
Which is why she writes sweet stories about tough love…and takes naps.
Coming soon:
Left on Marriottsville (Our Secret Nook Anthology)
The Villain (Siren’s Lullaby Anthology)