Belega
by Dianne Hartsock
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Erotic Fantasy Romance (M/M)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
The Karthagans have regained their ancient powers of manipulating nature, but at the price of madness. In their lust for control, they've destroyed their island and most of their race. They come now to Belega, where one of them, Camron, seeks domination over the known world. The Mage has come from the northern continent of Sennia to bring peace but finding his strength no match for the coming struggle, he passes his abilities on to Natan, who only desires a simple life.
Now only Natan has the ability to stop Camron, but the personal cost is more than he imagines. It is only with the combined strength of his friends, his Karthagan lover, Kavi, and his deep desire to bring lasting peace to the earth, that he finds the courage to overcome Camron and restore balance to the world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPTS
Kavi came awake with the echo of Natan’s desperate cries ringing in his ears, and he opened his eyes to blackness and cold stone. His head throbbed as he sat up, and he put his shackled hands to his forehead, wincing when his fingers came away sticky with blood. Then he remembered the well-placed kick that had earned him the blow from Landlan and grinned. If he hadn’t lost consciousness, he might have been able to find a way to escape while the man dealt with his pain.
Almost blind in the darkness, Kavi crawled along the floor, the chains binding his ankles clinking, until he reached a wall and sat with his back to its damp surface, wrinkling his nose at the smell of decay. His wrists and ankles burned where the skin had been scraped raw from the rusting shackles. Damn, he didn’t want to be there anymore. Had it been a week? More? Too long.
The clang of a bolt being drawn on the door startled him, and Kavi climbed stiffly to his feet. Light from the wall sconces in the hallway spilled into the room, making him cry out as it struck his eyes. It didn’t hurt but appearing weak always served him well.
“You’re still alive. Excellent. Shall we burn you today?”
Landlan seemed to savor every word he spoke, and Kavi willed his pounding heart to slow.
“Let’s not rush things,” he replied flippantly, then bit his tongue. For once, he should keep his mouth shut. His blood chilled as cold brown eyes looked him over. He swayed on his feet, frozen, exhausted, and Landlan leaned forward to flick his smooth cheek with a hard nail.
“Let’s try this one last time. Tell me why you’re here,” Landlan demanded, and took Kavi’s chin in a firm grip when he would have flinched away. “Your people were exiled from this continent years ago. Why break the treaty?” Landlan leaned closer and Kavi saw the glitter in his eyes. “What do you hope to find? Power? Wealth?” He suddenly made a sign against evil. “Do you hope to raise the dead? Rebuild the Karthagan army?”
The questions caught Kavi by surprise, and he laughed, too late realizing his mistake. Giving an outraged cry, Landlan viciously backhanded him, cutting his lip. The man struck several more times, his ornate silver ring slicing the delicate skin of Kavi’s cheeks.
Landlan grabbed Kavi’s tunic, pulling him close. “You listen, bastard. Thirty years ago, we drove your filthy race from our shores, you with your bright eyes and depraved magic. Your people should have stayed in their own country.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Dianne grew up in one of the older homes in the middle of Los Angeles, a place of hardwood floors and secret closets and back staircases. A house where ghosts lurk in the basement and the faces in the paintings watch you walk up the front stairs. Rooms where you keep the closet doors closed tight at night. It’s where her love of the mysterious and wonderful came from. Dianne is the author of m/m romance, paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind.
She now lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. Dianne says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee in her hands, which kindles her imagination.
Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.
Blog: https://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/diannehartsock
FaceBook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/diannehartsockbooks/?show_switched_toast=1&show_switched_tooltip=0&show_podcast_settings=0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4850270.Dianne_Hartsock
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diannehartsock/
No comments:
Post a Comment